Production Levels Research Articles

P-399 Beyond chromosome screening: The impact of progesterone and in vitro oxidative stress on failed euploid blastocyst transfers

Abstract Study question To assess the effect of serum progesterone levels on the production of radical oxygen species (ROS) by endometrial immune cells in patients with non-genetic miscarriages. Summary answer Elevated serum pre-transfer progesterone levels favour the development of an endometrial microenvironment that is not conducive to a healthy pregnancy, by increasing ROS production. What is known already Endometrial immune cells, especially uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells, play an essential role in the proper development of pregnancy, promoting angiogenesis and adequate placentation. The maturation of these cells is indirectly determined by progesterone levels, which, during the secretory phase, enhance the synthesis of key cytokines for uNKs’ functionality. Previous studies have already indicated that increases in progesterone levels during the follicular phase can alter the endometrial microenvironment, affecting its receptivity. However, the molecular effect that imbalances of this hormone may have on the endometrium on the day of embryo transfer and directly in relation to uNK is still unknown. Study design, size, duration We conducted a prospective exploratory study, between September 2022 and January 2024, including 15 patients with previous miscarriages after euploid single embryo transfer (SET), ruling out the genetic cause for such gestational losses. We obtained endometrial biopsies of all patients, after 5 days of progesterone, in a cycle with hormone replacement therapy. The same day of the biopsy, serum progesterone levels were measured in all the patients included. Participants/materials, setting, methods In vitro cultures enriched in uNK cells (CD56+CD16-) were established from the patients’ endometrial biopsies and cell enrichment was confirmed by flow cytometry. These cells were co-cultured with the JEG-3 cell line (placental cells), simulating the microenvironment of early pregnancy. Cellular ROS production was measured by fluorescence detection 40 hours post-culture using a commercial kit. A linear regression model was used to determine statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) between ROS and progesterone levels. Main results and the role of chance The mean age of the participating patients was 38.9 years and the BMI was 23.2 kg/m2. The mean progesterone level the day of the biopsy was 15.6 ng/ml. The cell cultures obtained from patients were successfully enriched in the desired cell population, with an average percentage of 89.6% uNK cells (CD56+CD16-) of total leukocytes (CD45+) obtained by flow cytometry. After culturing the same number of cells from each patient with the same number of spheroids of the JEG-3 cell line, an average ROS production of 31341.2 arbitrary units (a.u.) was obtained. Taking into account the co-cultures stablished from the 15 patients, a positive correlation between cellular ROS production and progesterone level was observed (r = 0.6728, p = 0.006). Limitations, reasons for caution Although the results shown may provide clues about the molecular dynamics of the endometrium during early pregnancy, they should be taken with caution, as it is not yet known whether this progesterone elevation is the cause or rather the consequence of an unfavourable endometrial microenvironment with high oxidative stress. Wider implications of the findings This study provides new information on the endometrial microenvironment of patients suffering non-genetic miscarriages and, although much remains to be studied, this association between hormone levels and oxidative stress may point the way to future studies investigating a possible explanation for these undesirable reproductive outcomes. Trial registration number Not Applicable

Modeling and mitigation of vortex formation in ejector deep hole drilling with smoothed particle hydrodynamics

AbstractEjector deep hole drilling achieves high-quality boreholes in production processes. High feed rates are applied to ensure a high productivity level, requiring reliable chip removal from the cutting zone for a stable process. Therefore, a constant metalworking fluid flow under high volume flow rates or high pressure is required. Experimental results show a vortex formation at the outer cutting edge. This vortex can lead to delayed chip removal from the cutting zone, and ultimately, it can lead to chip clogging and result in drill breakage due to increased torque. This paper investigates modified drill head designs using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. The investigated modifications include various designs of the chip mouth covering. Besides graphical analysis based on flow visualizations, flow meters are placed at the tool’s head to evaluate the impact of the modifications on the flow rate and possible increased resistance and relocation of the fluid flow from the outer cutting edge to other parts of the tool. The simulation results for the reference design show the experimentally observed vortex formation, validating the simulation model. By adding the tool’s rotation in the SPH simulation, which is not included in the experiments for observation reasons, the vortex formation is positively influenced. In addition, some designs show promising results to further mitigate the vortex formation while maintaining a sufficient fluid flow around the cutting edges.

Productive electricity and non-electricity consumption effects on economic growth: A Latin America analysis

Electrification is a key pillar in energy transformation to reduce emissions. However, it may also have consequences on production. This study analyzes the effect of using electricity and non-electricity energy sources on production growth. An extended neoclassical production function, with the two uses of energy (electricity and non-electricity), is estimated for 17 Latin American countries from 1990 to 2019 and, for subsamples, based on the level of production per persons employed. The study is performed applying the cross-sectionally augmented, autoregressive distributed lag modeling approach and a non-parametric time-varying coefficients model. The parametric results indicate that the effect of both sources of energy on production are positive and significant. However, the production elasticity with respect to non-electricity consumption is higher than that with respect to electricity consumption. Only in countries with the lowest production levels could electrification be neutral. The non-parametric results show that the effect of non-electricity consumption is decreasing slightly over the period, while the effect of electricity use is increasing slightly, with a tendency towards stabilization at the end of the period. Nevertheless, these changes have been small.

Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Optimizing Groundwater Level in Boreal Cultivated Peatland

Optimizing the level of groundwater presents a viable strategy for mitigating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the cultivation of peatlands. This study investigated the impact of soil hydrological conditions on carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions. The CO2 and CH4 emissions from bare soil were continuously measured using an automated chamber system throughout the growing seasons from 2021 to 2023 at a boreal cultivated peat soil site. Annual CO2 emissions from soil respiration averaged to 21,600 kg ha-1 (April-November) corresponding to carbon (C) loss of 5890 kg ha-1. The CO2 emissions were highly temperature dependent. Lowering the groundwater level (GWL) was found to increase the CO2 emissions nearly linearly. The soil functioned as a CH4 sink for the majority of the growing season, and the total sink corresponded to 27 and 20 kg ha-1 yr-1 CO2 equivalent in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The CH4 emissions occurred generally when soil water content (SWC) exceeded 0.6 m3 m-3 and when GWL was at the depth of less than 30 cm from soil surface. For optimal climate efficiency the mitigation measures must be implemented during the mid-growing season, and the water table should be brought close to the soil surface. Potentially, this can hamper the operation of machinery on the field and reduce the harvested yield. Thus, comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is necessary before adopting a raised water table level in large-scale crop production.

Production of low-cost lactic acid from dairy wastes and dates wastewater and bioactive silver-poly (lactic acid) nanocomposite for biological applications

L-Lactic acid-producing Lactobacillus lactis and L. plantarum were isolated from date wastes. The fermentation process was optimized using a one-variable-at-a-time approach. Dairy wastewater and wastewater from the date industry were utilized as low-cost culture media to produce lactic acid. The selected two bacterial strains were co-cultured in wastewater medium to produce L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid. Lactic acid production was significantly improved by glucose (carbon source), yeast extract (nitrogen source), initial inoculum level, and polysorbate 80. A central composite design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the variables and their levels to improve lactic acid yield. The supplemented yeast extract, glucose, and polysorbate 80 improved lactic acid. The predicted variables and their levels for maximum lactic acid production were glucose (67.5 g/L), yeast extract (10.28 g/L), and polysorbate 80 (0.48 mL/L). The prepared nanocomposites exhibited antibacterial activity against foodborne bacterial pathogens. The structural properties of the silver-polylactic acid nano compost materials were determined. The characterized compost materials exhibited a peak absorption wavelength of 430 nm. The silver and poly(lactic acid) were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis and were 30 to 50 nm in size.

The development of fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry and the studies on its environmental, ecological and economic effects in China: A review

The fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry is an emerging industrial model in China that integrates aquaculture with the solar industry. This innovative model involves conducting aquaculture activities while installing photovoltaic modules on the water surface to harness solar energy for electricity generation. However, despite its rapid growth in China, this model lacks substantial scientific data support across various domains. Therefore, based on an analysis of relevant research literature, this study reviews the current development status, environmental and economic effects, as well as challenges faced by the fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry in China. The aim is to provide scientific references for promoting sustainable development within this sector. The findings reveal that existing fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry projects are primarily concentrated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Pearl River Basin. The geographical distribution of these projects is predominantly influenced by local aquaculture areas and available solar energy resources, with a greater impact observed from the former rather than the latter. During summer months when water is shaded by photovoltaic panels, a slight decrease in the average water quality parameters across cases was observed, such as a decrease of 0.2 units in pH, a decrease of 1.06 °C in water temperature, a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels of 0.8 mg/L, inorganic nitrogen content and total phosphorus concentration dropped by 0.08 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L respectively. Conversely, there is a moderate increase noted in total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen levels. The conclusion of the effect on phytoplankton biomass is not uniform, but it will certainly reduce zooplankton biomass. The impact on the species diversity of the zooplankton community was minimal, and its direction, whether positive or negative, varied depending on the specific aquatic ecosystem. A certain degree of shade is advantageous for the cultivation of shade-loving fish. Through the strategic deployment of photovoltaic panels and the implementation of scientific stocking practices, it is possible to achieve sustained levels of fisheries production. This model also can reduce an average of 978.6 tons of CO2 emissions per megawatt per year through energy production, thus achieving the combined goals of energy conservation and emissions reduction, and ensuring the profitability of power generation. Additionally, compared with the land utilization area of 3.66 hm2 per megawatt of traditional ground-mounted photovoltaics, fishery-photovoltaic complementary only requires 1.64 hm2, which can significantly save land resources by utilizing water surfaces, which mitigates the conflict between land use for agriculture and renewable energy installations. At the same time, research also pointed out that the existence of fishery-photovoltaic complementary will inevitably have some negative impacts on bird communities. Economic analyses indicate that while initial infrastructure costs and long payback periods pose challenges, the overall economic feasibility is promising, especially with governmental support and technological advancements. However, several challenges need to be addressed for further development: these include difficulties associated with infrastructure construction and initial costs, long payback periods; insufficient experience and technical support; as well as a lack of research on ecological and environmental impacts - particularly an urgent need for comprehensive life cycle assessments encompassing both environmental and economic aspects. Future research should focus on life cycle assessments, improved PV technology integration, and optimized aquaculture practices.

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG improves insulin sensitivity and offspring survival via modulation of gut microbiota and serum metabolite in a sow model

BackgroundSows commonly experience insulin resistance in late gestation and lactation, causing lower feed intake and milk production, which can lead to higher mortality rates in newborn piglets. The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is known to improve insulin resistance. However, whether supplementing LGG can improve insulin sensitivity in sows and enhance lactation performance, particularly the early survival of offspring remains unclear. Hence, we explored the effects and mechanisms of supplementing LGG during late gestation and lactation on sow insulin sensitivity, lactation performance, and offspring survival. In total, 20 sows were randomly allocated to an LGG (n = 10) and control group (n = 10).ResultsIn sows, LGG supplementation significantly improved insulin sensitivity during late gestation and lactation, increased feed intake, milk production and colostrum lactose levels in early lactation, and enhanced newborn piglet survival. Moreover, LGG treatment significantly reshaped the gut microbiota in sows, notably increasing microbiota diversity and enriching the relative abundance of insulin sensitivity-associated probiotics such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides. Serum metabolite and amino acid profiling in late-gestation sows also revealed decreased branched-chain amino acid and kynurenine serum levels following LGG supplementation. Further analyses highlighted a correlation between mitigated insulin resistance in late pregnancy and lactation by LGG and gut microbiota reshaping and changes in serum amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, maternal LGG enhanced immunity in newborn piglets, reduced inflammation, and facilitated the establishment of a gut microbiota.ConclusionsWe provide the first evidence that LGG mitigates insulin resistance in sows and enhances offspring survival by modulating the gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism.

Strategic Human Resource Management Practices for Enhancing Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance

This research investigates the role of strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices in enhancing employee engagement and organizational performance. The primary objective is to qualitatively explore how SHRM practices contribute to fostering a highly engaged workforce and driving superior organizational outcomes. The study employs a qualitative methodology, incorporating case studies, in-depth interviews with HR professionals, and thematic analysis to understand the impact of SHRM on employee engagement and organizational performance. The research involves detailed case studies of organizations recognized for their exemplary HR practices, along with interviews with HR managers, executives, and employees. These qualitative data collection methods provide insights into the specific SHRM practices implemented, such as talent management, performance appraisal systems, employee development programs, and inclusive workplace policies. The thematic analysis identifies key themes and patterns in how these practices influence employee motivation, job satisfaction, and overall performance. The findings reveal that organizations that integrate SHRM practices, such as continuous learning opportunities, clear performance feedback mechanisms, and a supportive work environment, significantly enhance employee engagement. The qualitative data suggest that engaged employees are more likely to exhibit higher levels of productivity, creativity, and loyalty, which in turn contributes to improved organizational performance. Case studies highlight that companies with a strategic focus on HR management are better positioned to adapt to changing market conditions and achieve sustained competitive advantage.

Belt and road initiative and export sophistication: The role of China’s outward foreign direct investment

We investigate the impact of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on the export sophistication of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Through an examination of data spanning from 2010 to 2015, our findings reveal that China’s OFDI significantly enhances export sophistication in host countries, with a more pronounced effect observed in relatively poor BRI nations. However, the positive correlation between China’s OFDI and export sophistication diminishes in host countries characterized by elevated productivity levels. Utilizing a structural equation model, we identify host country productivity as a crucial mediating factor. The indirect technology spillover effects of China’s OFDI, facilitated through increased productivity, account for approximately 39% of their overall impact on export sophistication. Furthermore, we delineate threshold effects of productivity for China’s OFDI, demonstrating substantial positive effects in host countries with a GDP per capita below the first threshold (approximately US$1,141) or within the range of the first and second thresholds (around US$7,115). Upon consideration of these thresholds, distinctions in the effects of China’s OFDI between BRI and non-BRI host countries diminish. Our analysis underscores that the favorable influence of China’s OFDI extends beyond the BRI, providing benefits to low and middle-income countries globally.

Use of a commercial feed supplement based on diatom earth and yeast products on oxidative status and in vitro immune response in buffaloes during peripartum.

The transition period is a critical metabolic phase for dairy ruminants, especially those with high production levels. In spite of this, little is still known about dairy water buffalo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial feed additive based on diatomaceous earth and hydrolyzed yeasts on health status, milk quality and immune response of buffalo cows during the transition period. Eighty healthy Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) of Italian Mediterranean breed were included in the trial. They were subdivided in two groups: one group received the additive (n = 40) while the control group (n=40) received a placebo. The trial lasted 120 days, from 60 days before calving to 60 days in milk. Blood samples were collected from each buffalo at -60d (60 days from the expected calving), -30 d, 0 d (calving), +15 d, +30 d, and +60 d (respectively, i.e., 15, 30 and 60 days in milking). The biochemical as well as the oxidative profile, and the antioxidant power and enzymatic activity were evaluated in the samples obtained. Moreover, acute phase proteins, reactive proteins and Interleukine plasma levels were determined. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocytes were isolated and viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were measured on PMBC and monocytes. The introduction of additives enhanced the total antioxidant capacity and enzyme activity, while no differences were observed in oxidation products throughout the trial. Additionally, it significantly reduced the synthesis of ROS in polymorphonuclear cells, supporting a potential positive response in animals experiencing inflammation. The impact of oxidation on the products was not evident. Despite higher enzyme levels in plasma, this did not necessarily correspond to significantly increased enzymatic activity, but rather indicated a higher potential. From these results, it was evident that the transition period in buffaloes differs notably from what reported in literature for cows, probably due to the absence of common postpartum production diseases in dairy cows and lower metabolic challenges linked to lower milk production in buffaloes. Few parameters exhibited notable changes during the transition period in buffaloes, notably certain antioxidant enzymes, PBMC viability, PBMC ROS production, and Hp levels.

Toward biodefence: a framework for the mitigation of malicious threats to livestock production enterprises in Australia

Biosecurity underpins the Australian agricultural sector, estimated to be worth $51 billion in exports and trade, $50 billion in tourism, $5.7 trillion in environmental assets, and more than 1.6 million jobs. Given the value to the Australian economy and the potential consequences of a deliberately introduced biological agent, measures to prevent malicious biosecurity threats are critical for national security. Using the framework of Situational Crime Prevention (SCP), the study examined recommended biosecurity practices for cattle production enterprises in Australia and explored the extent to which the Australian biosecurity framework is underpinned by preventative security. The study found the existing biosecurity framework has limited theoretical security underpinning and is constituted by practices primarily aimed at preventing naturally occurring and accidental threats, rather than an active preventative security approach at the farming level to mitigate threats of a malicious or deliberate nature. These findings identify a deficit in Australia’s national security approach to biosecurity in cattle production enterprises, establishing a need for biosecurity recommendations at an industry and primary production level to embed security theory and principles to account for malicious actors in alignment with international biodefence strategy. Subsequently, the study demonstrated how security theory can be applied to biosecurity and the agricultural sector more broadly and developed an SCP framework toward biodefence of agriculture, converging biosecurity and security as a bilateral approach to mitigating naturally occurring, accidental, and deliberate biosecurity threats.

Transgenerational effect of prenatal stress on behavior and lipid peroxidation in brain structures of female rats during the estral cycle.

The effect of stress in pregnant female Wistar rats on the behavior and lipid peroxidation (LP) in the neocortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus in the female F2 generation during the ovarian cycle was investigated. We subjected pregnant females to daily 1-hour immobilization stress from the 15th to the 19th days of pregnancy. Further, family groups were formed from prenatally stressed and control male and female rats of the F1 generation: group 1, the control female and male; group 2, the control female and the prenatally stressed male; group 3, the prenatally stressed female and the control male; group 4, the prenatally stressed female and male. The females of the F2 generation born from these couples were selected into four experimental groups in accordance with the family group. At the age of 3 months, behavior of rats was studied in the "open field" test in two stages of the ovarian cycle - estrus and diestrus. After 7-10 days, the rats were decapitated and the neocortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus were selected to determine the level of diene and triene conjugates, Schiff bases and the degree of lipid oxidation (Klein index). In F2 females with one prenatally stressed parent, there was no interstage difference in locomotor-exploratory activity and anxiety. If both F1 parents were prenatally stressed, female F2 rats retained interstage differences similar to the control pattern, while their locomotor-exploratory activity and time spent in the center of an "open field" decreased in absolute values. In the neocortex of F2 females in groups with prenatally stressed mothers, the level of primary LP products decreased and the level of Schiff bases increased in the estrus stage. In the hippocampus of F2 females in the groups with prenatally stressed fathers, the level of Schiff bases decreased in the estrus stage, and the level of primary LP products increased in group 2 and decreased in group 4. In the hypothalamus of F2 females in the groups with prenatally stressed mothers, the level of Schiff bases increased in the estrus stage and decreased in the diestrus; in addition, in group 3, the level of primary LP products in the estrus stage increased. Thus, we demonstrated the influence of prenatal stress of both F1 mother and F1 father on the behavior and the level of LP in the neocortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus in female rats of the F2 generation in estrus and diestrus.

Connected FPSOs Thrive on Automation

Modern life is connected. Our computers, phones, and watches are all tapped into personal insights, from a daily planner to keep track of meetings and appointments to a health monitor tracking everything from heart rate to blood oxygen level in real time. This connectivity has bled over into many different facets of our lives, including work. Business and industry maintain critical connections allowing for simplification of complex tasks and the monitoring of machines for safety and performance. As the oil field has become more connected, increasing opportunities for automation have been introduced into both new and existing oilfield technologies with aims to achieve new levels of productivity and safety. Whether it is a robotic arm on the drill floor of a rig bringing pipe from the stand to the well or autonomous robots being used for inspections and other operation observations in hard-to-reach or remote places, if the connectivity is there it opens the door to a vast, new toolkit for contractors and operators alike. In 2023, a group of contractors came together to help define the next steps in automation for floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels. The FPSO Coalition—made up of SLB, Rockwell Automation, Sensia, and Cognite—is a collaboration designed to accelerate the evolution of FPSOs by developing and employing new digital capabilities aimed at improving the reliability, availability, safety, and efficiency of the assets, while lowering the carbon footprint of their offshore operations. FPSOs have been invaluable tools for offshore development around the world for decades. Some older hardware does not have the benefit of being wired for connection or pieces of equipment being Internet of Things (IoT)-ready. As much as the coalition looks to solutions to integrate into new facilities, it also explores the limitations and potential for bringing older yet still viable components into the digital age. Under the venture, SLB was tapped to bring advanced digital solutions, subsurface domain expertise, and complex integration and project management capabilities to scale up efficiencies and lower the carbon footprint of operations across every stage of the FPSO life cycle. Rockwell would provide expertise in control and safety systems for FPSOs, as well as extensive experience in power systems. “Keeping in mind that the typical operating life of an FPSO can be 20-25-30 years, a lot can change in terms of technology, process conditions, regulatory requirements, etc.,” said Greg Trostel, global industry development manager for floating production at Rockwell Automation. “But ultimately, the main goal of automation is to ensure the reliable and safe operation of the vessel—no loss of containment, no personnel at risk, no environmental incidents. “Ideally, automation systems can adapt and grow with the changing technology and changing requirements. We depend on the automation systems to keep all the individual process modules connected to, and operating in concert with, the main vessel systems,” he said. One of the first things tasked to the coalition was a contract awarded to SLB for a multipurpose dynamic simulation solution providing an immersive digital twin environment to dynamically simulate operational processes and their control and automation systems, train personnel, and strengthen safety elements at five newbuild FPSO units to be installed in Búzios Field in the Santos Basin for Petrobras.

A Production inventory model for deteriorating items with quadratic time dependent demand with two levels of Production

A Production inventory model for deteriorating items with quadratic time dependent demand with two levels of Production

ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING STATUS OF COCOA FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the psychological and social wellbeing status of cocoa farming households in Southsouth zone of Nigeria. A multi-staged sampling technique was used in selecting 240 Cocoa Farming Households (CFH) that were selected for this study. Data were collected from primary source using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and mean ratings were employed to analyze the data collected. Major findings revealed a grand mean of 2.85 indicating that social wellbeing status of the rural households is moderate with the mean of social integration ranking highest (x=3.14), followed by social contribution (x = 2.81), Social coherence (x = 2.78) and social acceptance (x = 2.77) that ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively. The grand mean of psychological wellbeing of rural households was 2.90, indicating a moderate psychological wellbeing status with the mean of variables under "Purpose i n life" having the highest mean of 3.18, this was followed by those under “Self-Acceptance” (x= 3.00) and "Personal growth" (x= 2.87) that came 2nd and 3rd respectively. The correlation result (r = 0.527) indicated a significant relationship existing between the cocoa farming households' psychological wellbeing and their social wellbeing status in South-South zone, Nigeria. The study concluded that both the psychological and social wellbeing status of the households are moderate, not high and therefore recommends that Extension agencies and Government need to reorientate cocoa farming households to keep them in the right frame of mind and attitude as they carry out their farming activities as well as give them financial assistance that will boost their level of production with increased income and in turn lift their social status and general wellbeing.

A rule-based multiscale model of hepatic stellate cell plasticity: Critical role of the inactivation loop in fibrosis progression.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the source of extracellular matrix (ECM) whose overproduction leads to fibrosis, a condition that impairs liver functions in chronic liver diseases. Understanding the dynamics of HSCs will provide insights needed to develop new therapeutic approaches. Few models of hepatic fibrosis have been proposed, and none of them include the heterogeneity of HSC phenotypes recently highlighted by single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. Here, we developed rule-based models to study HSC dynamics during fibrosis progression and reversion. We used the Kappa graph rewriting language, for which we used tokens and counters to overcome temporal explosion. HSCs are modeled as agents that present seven physiological cellular states and that interact with (TGFβ1) molecules which regulate HSC activation and the secretion of type I collagen, the main component of the ECM. Simulation studies revealed the critical role of the HSC inactivation process during fibrosis progression and reversion. While inactivation allows elimination of activated HSCs during reversion steps, reactivation loops of inactivated HSCs (iHSCs) are required to sustain fibrosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated the model's sensitivity to (TGFβ1) parameters, suggesting its adaptability to a variety of pathophysiological conditions for which levels of (TGFβ1) production associated with the inflammatory response differ. Using new experimental data from a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, we validated the predicted ECM dynamics. Our model also predicts the accumulation of iHSCs during chronic liver disease. By analyzing RNA sequencing data from patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated with liver fibrosis, we confirmed this accumulation, identifying iHSCs as novel markers of fibrosis progression. Overall, our study provides the first model of HSC dynamics in chronic liver disease that can be used to explore the regulatory role of iHSCs in liver homeostasis. Moreover, our model can also be generalized to fibroblasts during repair and fibrosis in other tissues.

H19 lncRNA triggers ferroptosis, exacerbating ox-LDL-induced artery endothelial cell damage in vitro

BACKGROUND: The precise association between lncRNA H19 and ferroptosis in the context of atherosclerosis remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: This study is to clarify the underlying process and propose novel approaches for the advancement of therapeutic interventions targeting atherosclerosis. METHODS: Assessment of ferroptosis, which entails the evaluation of cell viability using CCK-8 and the quantification of intracellular MDA, GSH, and ferrous ions. Simultaneously, the protein expression levels of assessed by western blot analysis, while the expression level of lncRNA H19 was also determined. Furthermore, HAECs that were cultured with ox-LDL were subjected to Fer-1 interference. HAECs were exposed to ox-LDL and then transfected with H19 shRNA and H19 overexpression vector pcDNA3.1. The level of ferroptosis in the cells was then measured. Then, HAECs were subjected to incubation with ox-LDL, followed by transfection with H19 shRNA and treated with Erastin to assess the levels of ferroptosis, cell viability, and inflammatory factor production. and the ability for blood vessel development. RESULTS: The survival rate of HAECs in the ox-LDL group was much lower. Ox-LDL resulted in an upregulation of ACSL4 expression in HAECs, while the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 decreased. CONCLUSIONS: lncRNA H19 enhances ferroptosis and exacerbates arterial endothelial cell damage induced by LDL.

After the killing fields: Post-pandemic changes in journalism employment in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

This article continues a longitudinal national study of journalism employment in Australia and contributes to new understandings of journalism employment in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Results suggest a shift in the organisational landscape of the media in Australia, with an expansion of large organisations at the ‘top,’ and a considerable loss of small micro-ventures (largely based online) at the ‘bottom.’ Implications include stronger centralised editorial control at the corporate level, urbanisation and homogenisation of media producers and product, and reduced opportunities for creative entry-level roles.

After the killing fields: Post-pandemic changes in journalism employment in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

This article continues a longitudinal national study of journalism employment in Australia and contributes to new understandings of journalism employment in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Results suggest a shift in the organisational landscape of the media in Australia, with an expansion of large organisations at the ‘top,’ and a considerable loss of small micro-ventures (largely based online) at the ‘bottom.’ Implications include stronger centralised editorial control at the corporate level, urbanisation and homogenisation of media producers and product, and reduced opportunities for creative entry-level roles.

Effect of various C/N ratio on lipid production of Mucor irregularis JR 1.1 using glucose as carbon source

Abstract The presence of limited nitrogen plays an important role in the lipid production process in oleaginous fungi, highlighting the significance of achieving an appropriate carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio to optimize biomass and lipid production. Mucor irregularis JR 1.1, an oleaginous fungi inoculated from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, shows the ability to accumulate lipids up to 43.46% of its total dry biomass. However, the optimum C/N ratio for lipid production of M. irregularis JR 1.1 has not yet been determined. This research aims to explore the effects of different C/N ratios on biomass and lipid production of M. irregularis JR 1.1, utilizing glucose as the primary carbon source. Various C/N ratio ranging from 15 to 75 was examined, alongside with incubation time of 144 hours at 29°C. The optimum C/N ratio was then utilized to construct a growth curve to evaluate the influence of varying incubation time on biomass and lipid production, as well as the lipid productivity of M. irregularis JR 1.1. Results revealed that the highest level of biomass and lipid production were achieved at C/N ratio 40. Additionally, variations in incubation time exhibited a consistent rise in both biomass and lipid production, with the highest lipid productivity achieved at 72 hours of incubation. This study suggests that variation in the C/N ratio and incubation time have discernible impact the biomass and lipid production of M. irregularis JR 1.1 while variations in incubation time did not affect the lipid productivity.