Major Groups Research Articles

Combining Asian and European genome-wide association studies of colorectal cancer improves risk prediction across racial and ethnic populations

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) have great potential to guide precision colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention by identifying those at higher risk to undertake targeted screening. However, current PRS using European ancestry data have sub-optimal performance in non-European ancestry populations, limiting their utility among these populations. Towards addressing this deficiency, we expand PRS development for CRC by incorporating Asian ancestry data (21,731 cases; 47,444 controls) into European ancestry training datasets (78,473 cases; 107,143 controls). The AUC estimates (95% CI) of PRS are 0.63(0.62-0.64), 0.59(0.57-0.61), 0.62(0.60-0.63), and 0.65(0.63-0.66) in independent datasets including 1681-3651 cases and 8696-115,105 controls of Asian, Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White, respectively. They are significantly better than the European-centric PRS in all four major US racial and ethnic groups (p-values < 0.05). Further inclusion of non-European ancestry populations, especially Black/African American and Latinx/Hispanic, is needed to improve the risk prediction and enhance equity in applying PRS in clinical practice.

A new species of Campsurus Eaton, 1868 (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae) from the Doce River Basin, Brazil.

The male imago of Campsurus mirim sp. nov., an integrant of the C. major species group, is described based on material from a lake at the Rio Doce basin, Southeastern Brazil. It can be distinguished from other species of the group by the following combination of characteristics: small to medium size (body 7.3 mm, forewings 6.1 mm); blackish pigments on dorsum of head widely and strongly marked in fresh material; abdominal color pattern with pale transverse dashes on terga IIIVII; posterior margin of sternum IX triangular at middle; pedestals flat with inner margin broadly rounded and with both posterolateral corners (inner and outer) approximately of the same length, both acute; penes relatively wide and large, ventrally curved on apical and with apex of main lobe slightly twisted.

Transcriptomic landscape of posterior regeneration in the annelid Platynereis dumerilii

BackgroundRestorative regeneration, the capacity to reform a lost body part following amputation or injury, is an important and still poorly understood process in animals. Annelids, or segmented worms, show amazing regenerative capabilities, and as such are a crucial group to investigate. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underpin regeneration in this major group remains a key goal. Among annelids, the nereididae Platynereis dumerilii (re)emerged recently as a front-line regeneration model. Following amputation of its posterior part, Platynereis worms can regenerate both differentiated tissues of their terminal part as well as a growth zone that contains putative stem cells. While this regeneration process follows specific and reproducible stages that have been well characterized, the transcriptomic landscape of these stages remains to be uncovered.ResultsWe generated a high-quality de novo Reference transcriptome for the annelid Platynereis dumerilii. We produced and analyzed three RNA-sequencing datasets, encompassing five stages of posterior regeneration, along with blastema stages and non-amputated tissues as controls. We included two of these regeneration RNA-seq datasets, as well as embryonic and tissue-specific datasets from the literature to produce a Reference transcriptome. We used this Reference transcriptome to perform in depth analyzes of RNA-seq data during the course of regeneration to reveal the important dynamics of the gene expression, process with thousands of genes differentially expressed between stages, as well as unique and specific gene expression at each regeneration stage. The study of these genes highlighted the importance of the nervous system at both early and late stages of regeneration, as well as the enrichment of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) during almost the entire regeneration process.ConclusionsIn this study, we provided a high-quality de novo Reference transcriptome for the annelid Platynereis that is useful for investigating various developmental processes, including regeneration. Our extensive stage-specific transcriptional analysis during the course of posterior regeneration sheds light upon major molecular mechanisms and pathways, and will foster many specific studies in the future.

Advances and Future Challenges in Aircraft Fuselage Section Crashworthiness: A Critical Review

Background: Crashworthiness studies the safety qualification of a vehicle (both airborne and road transports) to protect its occupants during an impact. Before an aircraft can receive transport certification, it must meet a number of crashworthiness requirements, such as the structure's deformation pattern, absorbed kinetic energy profile, and acceleration responses experienced by the components and human body models. Therefore, in recent times, crashworthiness has emerged as a crucial field of study during the early design stages of aircraft, along with other key parameters like weight reduction, load factor, fatigue life estimation, etc. Objective: The main objective of the present article is to undertake an in-depth analysis of the developments in crashworthiness related to the civil aircraft fuselage section. Furthermore, it aims to identify and address the future challenges that must be overcome to ensure the utmost safety of the occupants. Methods: Based on the research objectives, the available literature is categorized into three major groups: (i) finite element code validation; (ii) improvement of the crashworthiness criteria; and (iii) impact on different surface models. A methodology to solve fuselage section crashworthiness is briefly described. A review of the research articles discussing general purpose energy absorbers for crashworthy design without any implementation to the fuselage structure is out of the scope of this article. Results: Experimental testing of fuselage section crashworthiness is expensive and non-repeatable. Furthermore, the intricate structure of the fuselage, with its numerous components, makes it nearly impossible to devise crashworthy design solutions through classical hand calculations alone. As a result, commercial software codes play a crucial role in the development of fuselage section crashworthiness, offering valuable assistance in overcoming these limitations. Conclusion: Future challenges of crashworthy design involve exploring novel materials and devices to mitigate injury during controlled crash conditions. An intriguing area of study would be the analysis of lattice components, as they have the potential to enhance crashworthiness. Furthermore, as newly designed fuselage sections emerge, it will be crucial to investigate and establish the necessary requirements to ensure compliance with crashworthiness certification standards.

Fenugreek Seed Ethanolic Extract Improves Alveolar Bone Parameters by Attenuating Inflammation in Ovariectomized Rats.

Alveolar bone residual ridge resorption remains a major challenge for dental implant placement in patients with edentulism. Fenugreek seed extracts have been reported to have potential roles in bone metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fenugreek seed ethanolic extract (FSEE) on bone cells, inflammation, hormones, and angiogenesis parameters of alveolar bone tissue following teeth extraction in an ovariectomized (OVX) model. A total of 30 adults female Wistar rats were assigned into two major groups. Each group consisted of control, OVX, OVX+FSEE 100 mg/kg BW, OVX+FSEE 200 mg/kg BW, and OVX+FSEE 400 mg/kg BW. The FSEE treatment was applied through the intragastric route for 7 days in the first group and for 30 days in the second group of animals. The first molar tooth of the right maxilla was extracted before the FSEE treatment. The level of 17β-estradiol was measured by the ELISA method. The dissected maxilla alveolar bone processus was sectioned for histological evaluation by hematoxylin-eosin staining and an immunohistochemistry assay. This study found that FSEE reduced the blood estrogen level and increased estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) expression. FSEE administration modified the number of bone cells, angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), sclerostin, and the osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β ligand (OPG/RANKL) ratio. Alterations were seen in the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and the macrophage-1/macrophage-2 (M1/M2) ratio. In this study, inflammation was found to be attenuated by reductions in IL-6 and sclerostin, and an increase in TGF-β1. The maturation of bone osteocytes increased along with the increase in ER-α expression and ratio of OPG/RANKL.

Acquisition of English nominal suffix -er by advanced EFL learners: a view from usage-based perspective

Abstract The present study investigated advanced Croatian EFL learners’ knowledge of five meanings of the English nominal (deverbal) suffix -er. It probed their ability to comprehend and produce corpus-rare and presumably unentrenched -er nouns in their prototypical agent and instrument meanings and their non-prototypical patient, locative, and causative meanings. It was hypothesized that participants would deal effortlessly with agent and instrument meanings of the low-frequency nouns since the corpus-attested high type frequency of -er agents and instruments, among others, suggests the existence of productive corresponding schemas. We hypothesized that participants would struggle with patient, locative and causative meanings of the low-frequency nouns since the corpus-attested low type frequency of the three functions arguably does not support their association with -er. A recognition and a production test were administered to two separate groups of English majors at a Croatian public university (n = 131). Results confirm general usage-based predictions about better performance with low-frequency agent and instrument -er nouns. However, a detailed examination reveals unexpected results, which confirm that frequency, however important, is not the only factor to include in a future model of EFL learners’ derivational proficiency.

Improving the biological realism of predator-prey size relationships in food web models alters ecosystem dynamics.

Body-size relationships between predators and prey exhibit remarkable diversity. However, the assumption that predators typically consume proportionally smaller prey often underlies size-dependent predation in ecosystem models. In reality, some animals can consume larger prey or exhibit limited changes in prey size as they grow larger themselves. These distinct predator-prey size relationships challenge the conventional assumptions of traditional size-based models. Cephalopods, with their diverse feeding behaviours and life histories, offer an excellent case study to investigate the impact of greater biological realism in predator-prey size relationships on energy flow within a size-structured ecosystem model. By categorizing cephalopods into high and low-activity groups, in line with empirically derived, distinct predator-prey size relationships, we found that incorporating greater biological realism in size-based feeding reduced ecosystem biomass and production, while simultaneously increasing biomass stability and turnover. Our results have broad implications for ecosystem modelling, since distinct predator-prey size relationships extend beyond cephalopods, encompassing a wide array of major taxonomic groups from filter-feeding fishes to baleen whales. Incorporating a diversity of size-based feeding in food web models can enhance their ecological and predictive accuracy when studying ecosystem dynamics.

Bioleaching Extraction of Valuable Metal From E-Wastes: A Mini Review

Abstract: Electrical waste (E-waste) is a significant global issue, with an annual generation of over 50 million tons, causing detrimental effects on both the environment and human health. However, E-waste is also known as a secondary valuable metal resource. Although hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy are still the preferred methods for metal recovery from E-wastes, bioleaching has gained significant attention as a promising alternative for metal recovery from E-wastes due to its sustainability, environmental friendliness, and cost efficiency. In this review, different chemical principles of bioleaching were first discussed. Major bacterial groups that can be applied in bioleaching were then introduced. The bioleaching procedures and applications have been summarized and analyzed. Finally, a few perspectives were made on potential future research on bioleaching.

Геногеография фармакогенетически значимых ДНК-маркеров CYP2C19 суперсемейства цитохромов в народонаселении России и сопредельных стран

Genetic testing of each patient aimed at detecting the pharmacogenetic marker carrier state is challenging for healthcare system. However, knowledge about the frequencies of pharmacogenetically important genes enables making decisions about treatment based on the patient’s ethnicity. The CYP2C19 cytochrome gene involved in biotransformation of a broad spectrum of drugs is one of the most important. The study was aimed to determine the frequencies of major CYP2C19 variants and the patterns of their spatial variability in the population of Russia. The database Pharmacogenetics of the Population of Russia and Neighboring Countries created by the research team was used to determine frequencies of the CYP2C19 *1, *2, *3, *17 variants and their genotypes: *1 – 53 populations, n = 2261 samples; *2 — 79 populations, n = 6346; *3 — 92 populations, n = 7517; *17 — 35 populations, n = 3313. We have created a cartographic atlas that includes the *1, *2, *3, *17 frequency maps, correlation maps, and genotype frequency maps. Specific data on the frequencies of CYP2C19 variants and their pharmacogenetically significant genotypes in the major ethnic groups of Russia are provided. The cartographic atlas enables prediction of frequencies of significant CYP2C19 variants and their genotypes in the peoples, information about which is currently missing. The *1 and *2 variants gene geography is characterized by similar pattern: the combination of longitudinal trend of frequency increase from west to southeast and latitudinal variability of frequency increase from north to south in the Asian part of the region. Variant *3 is characterized by the clear longitudinal vector of frequency increase from 0 in the west to the world’s maximum in the Amur region. Variant *17 shows a pronounced longitudinal trend with the oppositely directed vector of frequency decrease from west to southeast. The correlation maps indicate regions, where the similarity between core patterns is disrupted.

Cephalopod versus vertebrate eyes

Vertebrates and cephalopods are the two major animal groups that view the world through sophisticated camera-type eyes. There are of course exceptions: nautiloid cephalopods have more simply built pinhole eyes. Excellent camera type eyes are also found in other animals, such as some spider groups, a few snails, and certain marine worms, but the vast majority of large camera-type eyes belong to cephalopods and vertebrates. Vertebrates and cephalopods also devote major parts of their brains to the processing of visual information. Obviously, there are differences in eye performance among cephalopods and vertebrates, but there are no major subgroups where vision seems to have low priority. The similarity in eye geometry is striking, especially between fish and coleoid cephalopods, with a hemispherical retina centred around a spherical lens. Do these similarities mean that vertebrate and cephalopod eyes are equally good? Comparing the eyes of vertebrates and cephalopods reveals many fundamental differences with surprisingly small consequences for vision, but also one difference that means that cephalopods and vertebrates do not share the same visual world.

A Step in the Right Direction: Analyzing Differences in Demographics and Mortality in Operative Management of Charcot Neuroarthropathy

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Diabetes Introduction/Purpose: Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) of the foot is a debilitating condition associated with diabetic neuropathy that involves progressive bone and joint destruction. Previous literature suggests the prevalence of CN is between 0.8%-8% in diabetic patients; however, CN diagnosis relies on skilled physician judgment, ultimately making management difficult. Physicians must account for the location, deformity, stage, and presence or absence of infection to appropriately treat CN. Correct diagnosis and treatment is essential to improving patients’ quality of life, but treatment varies with no definitive best-practice guidelines. Here, we provide demographic and all-cause mortality data for patients who underwent arthrodesis, exostectomy, minor amputations, and below-the-knee amputation (BKA), to evaluate the outcomes and characterize the populations managed with surgery for Charcot neuroarthropathy of the foot. Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained. A database of all patients from 1/1/2000 to 1/31/2022 with CPT and ICD codes indicating a diagnosis of Charcot neuroarthropathy who underwent exostectomy, arthrodesis, and/or amputation was created from the electronic medical record. Demographic and mortality data was collected for the study sample, including date-of- birth, sex, race, and all-cause mortality. Procedure data was also collected, which included date, code, and description. Amputation patients were separated into major and minor; major include transtibial and trans-metatarsal, whereas minor include toe and metatarsal amputations. Descriptive statistics were conducted and single-factor ANOVA and Chi squared tests were used for analysis. Results: Of the 2,066 patients; 557 had arthrodesis, 493 had exostectomy, 681 had minor amputation, and 335 had major amputation. Average age was 58.17 ± 13.8 overall, and 54.8 ± 13.6, 55.0 ± 13.0, 61.6 ± 13.6, and 61.5 ± 13.4 years for arthrodesis, exostectomy, minor amputation, and major amputation, respectively. Females accounted for 56.6% of arthrodeses, 56.8% of exostectomies, 34.5% of minor amputations, and 28.4% of major amputations performed (p &lt; 0.001). Patients were predominantly white in each group and overall, 2.1% were tobacco smokers. Mortality was 10.6%, 11.4%, 33.8%, and 31.9% in the arthrodesis, exostectomy, minor amputation, and major amputation groups, respectively (Figure 1). Conclusion: This is the first report of significant sample size (&gt;2,000 patients) comparing both demographic and mortality between common surgical procedures for Charcot neuroarthropathy. Patients undergoing both minor and major amputations were more likely to be older and male compared to those undergoing less intensive operations. Most importantly, this data demonstrates that patients undergoing amputation have significantly worse mortality (33.8% and 31.9%) than those who undergo arthrodesis (10.6%) and exostectomy (11.4%). Future studies may include an analysis of cause-specific mortality for patients diagnosed with CN to evolve clinical and surgical management.

Phytoplankton responds to environmental variables in Bali Straits, Indonesia

The ecological significance of phytoplankton within the small pelagic ecosystem cannot be overstated, as it serves as a vital food source for various marine biota, including larvae, juveniles, and small pelagic fish. This study marks the first investigation in the Bali Straits concerning the relationship between phytoplankton abundance and in situ environmental variables, employing an innovative additive model to develop a predictive system. The primary objective of this research is to elucidate the impact of environmental variables on phytoplankton abundance in the Bali Straits. During the year 2013, time series plankton samples and corresponding environmental variables, such as pH, nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), chlorophyll-a (Chl), and silica (SiO3), were collected. Utilizing stepwise generalized additive models (GAMs), we assessed the response of two major phytoplankton groups, namely diatoms and dinoflagellates, to the prevailing environmental variability. Our findings unveil distinct response patterns for each group, with diatoms displaying a deviance explained (DE) of 38.40%, and dinoflagellates with 35.5%. Notably, both groups exhibited significant responses to NO3 and SiO3, while pH solely exerted a significant impact on dinoflagellates. In contrast, PO4 and Chl displayed comparatively lower influence on the abundance of both phytoplankton groups. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the ecological dynamics in the Bali Straits and enhances our predictive capabilities in this critical marine ecosystem.

The role of perceived minority-group status in the conspiracy beliefs of factual majority groups.

Research suggests that minority-group members sometimes are more susceptible to misinformation. Two complementary studies examined the influence of perceived minority status on susceptibility to misinformation and conspiracy beliefs. In study 1 (n = 2140), the perception of belonging to a minority group, rather than factually belonging to it, was most consistently related with an increased susceptibility to COVID-19 misinformation across national samples from the USA, the UK, Germany and Poland. Specifically, perceiving that one belongs to a gender minority group particularly predicted susceptibility to misinformation when participants factually did not belong to it. In pre-registered study 2 (n = 1823), an experiment aiming to manipulate the minority perceptions of men failed to influence conspiracy beliefs in the predicted direction. However, pre-registered correlational analyses showed that men who view themselves as a gender minority were more prone to gender conspiracy beliefs and exhibited a heightened conspiracy mentality. This effect was correlationally mediated by increased feelings of system identity threat, collective narcissism, group relative deprivation and actively open-minded thinking. Especially, the perception of being a minority in terms of power and influence (as compared to numerically) was linked to these outcomes. We discuss limitations and practical implications for countering misinformation.

Toward industrial scale-up of polypeptide synthesis: analysis of monomer suitability

Polypeptide is a class of biopolymers that mimic the structure and properties of natural proteins, which makes it fitting for biological applications. The biodegradability and biocompatibility from the peptide backbones combined with the tunability from synthetic chemistry allow for long-chain polypeptides to function for drug delivery, tissue grafting, and gene therapy. Currently, long-chain polypeptides (≥100 amino acids) are not synthesized on a commercial scale (>100 kg.) Based on the potential applications, the optimization of polypeptide production should be discussed at the current stage. Since the majority of the polypeptide synthesis depends on the production of monomer and the polymerization of the monomer into polypeptides, choosing the most suitable monomer for industrial application is critical in designing a polypeptide production line. Based on an industrial standpoint, the ideal monomer should be synthesized conveniently, stored and transported easily, and polymerized efficiently. This article aims to compare and examine the four major groups of monomers used in a laboratory setting: protect amino acid, N-carboxyanhydride (NCA), N-thiocarboxyanhydride (NTA), and N-phenoxycarbonyl-functionalized α-amino acid (NPCA) based on the industrialization criteria stated above, using past experimental results. In the end, NPCA proves to be the most suitable monomer for industrial purposes. Like NCA, NPCA can be synthesized efficiently and can be polymerized into a diverse collection of polypeptides both based on conjugation and structure. Like NTA, NPCA can be synthesized and stored in an open-air environment. Still, NPCA has disadvantages in polymerization efficiency, requiring multiple days for long-chain polymers. Potentially, by increasing the leaving group conjugated to the amino acid, improvement can be made to the polymerization efficiency.

The biogeographic history of neosuchian crocodiles and the impact of saltwater tolerance variability.

Extant neosuchian crocodiles are represented by only 24 taxa that are confined to the tropics and subtropics. However, at other intervals during their 200 Myr evolutionary history the clade reached considerably higher levels of species-richness, matched by more widespread distributions. Neosuchians have occupied numerous habitats and niches, ranging from dwarf riverine forms to large marine predators. Despite numerous previous studies, several unsolved questions remain with respect to their biogeographic history, including the geographical origins of major groups, e.g. Eusuchia and Neosuchia itself. We carried out the most comprehensive biogeographic analysis of Neosuchia to date, based on a multivariate K-means clustering approach followed by the application of two ancestral area estimation methods (BioGeoBEARS and Bayesian ancestral location estimation) applied to two recently published phylogenies. Our results place the origin of Neosuchia in northwestern Pangaea, with subsequent radiations into Gondwana. Eusuchia probably emerged in the European archipelago during the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous, followed by dispersals to the North American and Asian landmasses. We show that putative transoceanic dispersal events are statistically significantly less likely to happen in alligatoroids. This finding is consistent with the saltwater intolerant physiology of extant alligatoroids, bolstering inferences of such intolerance in their ancestral lineages.

우리나라 주요 수출산업과 농식품산업의 수출결정요인 비교 분석

The global economy is slowing down significantly due to the Russia-U.S. war, rising raw material prices, and global monetary tightening, and the localization of global value chains and global supply chains is actively progressing, especially in countries that have been unstable in global supply chains due to global economic uncertainties. Against this backdrop, strengthening the agricultural base through agricultural exports needs to seek ways to strengthen competitiveness to foster agriculture as a new export industry as it can secure stable sources for major foods that are highly dependent on imports, including food resources, and can be a new opportunity to increase exports of agricultural and fishery foods. In this study, the export demand function of each major industrial group in Korea is estimated and compared with the determinants of export demand for agricultural products. As for the analysis target period, the top 10 exporting countries in Korea were set as analysis target countries for annual data from 1995 to 2022. In summary, it can be seen that factors affecting exports differ by industry group, and factors affecting the export of agricultural products are affected by the trade partner's gross domestic product, per capita gross domestic product, relative price index with trading partner, R&amp;D investment, comparative advantage index by trading partner for specific products, and FTA signing or not.

Diversity and distribution of true flies (Diptera) of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India: Functional roles based on ecological guilds

Proper understanding of ecological dynamics of faunal components, whether it is a large mammal or a tiny insect of any ecosystem including forests, plays an important role in the eco-management of any eco-zone. Dipteran insects constituting a major faunal group among the entomo-diversity of any forest ecosystem portray significant functional roles in determining the stability in the ecosystem functioning of the respective ecosystem. The present paper has attempted to document the diversity of dipteran insects inhabiting a tropical deciduous forest of the extended part of Deccan Biogeographic Zone in the eastern part of India, the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary alongside indicating its habitat preference and distribution patterns. A total of 34 species under 19 families of the order Diptera were recorded from different habitats of the studied forest areas, of which three species are considered new reports from the state of Odisha, India. Out of the three selected eco-zones, the deep forest area having a higher density of sal trees (Shorea robusta) revealed less species richness but high relative abundance, whereas the barren grazing land demonstrated higher species richness with low relative abundance. The eco-zone with wetlands and associated vegetation have shown moderate species richness and diversity of dipteran insects. Three contrasting seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon) of this region have also demonstrated different patterns of diversity and density of this group of insects which have been segregatedinto several feeding guilds in tune with the seasonal availability of food resources.

Discovering harmony: unravelling the work-life balance of hotel employees in Oman: an explorative study of luxury hotels in Muscat

Purpose- The main aim of this study is to analyse the work-life balance initiatives practised in Muscat hotels. The study also aims to examine the influence of work-life balance initiatives on employee career development and retention. Methodology- As the objective of this study was to assess and quantify several factors to provide findings, quantitative research was used. A descriptive research design was employed to collect extensive data by thoroughly detailing the topic or testing hypotheses. The sampling technique used in this study was purposeful sampling, with hotel employees in Muscat serving as the major target group. Responses from 164 individuals were gathered for the study using a questionnaire. Findings- Flexible Working Hours (4.27) was the work-life balance practise used in hotels to assist employees in finding a balance between work and family life. Career breaks (4.35) have the highest mean rating for work-life balance practises that motivate employees to stay with their employers. The results show that there is a positive and significant relationship between work-life balance and employees’ career development, with a Pearson's r value of 0.451 and a p-value of 0.000 &lt; 0.01. Further, the Pearson’s r correlation shows that work-life balance and employee retention are positively and significantly correlated, with the obtained Pearson's r value of 0.634 and a p-value of 0.000 &lt; 0.01. Conclusion- The results of this research indicate that hotels that promote work-life balance will reap benefits such as higher job satisfaction, lower turnover rates, possibilities for career advancement, better morale, and higher organisational productivity. Keywords: Work-life balance, luxury hotels, employees, career breaks, work-life balance initiatives JEL Codes: N30, J53, M54

INVENTORY OF ZOOPLANKTON AND MACROINVERTEBRATES IN THE DAYA OF DAR BOUAZZA, CASABLANCA, MOROCCO

This study aims to contribute to the elaboration of an inventory of zooplankton and macro invertebrates in the daya of Dar Bouazza, Casablanca region, Morocco. The determination of macro invertebrates and zooplanktons was based on the study of benthic larvae sampled between March and June 2021 in 4 stations. In the 4 stations, the benthic macro invertebrates recorded are distributed over 4 major faunal groups, 27 families and 35 genera. Coleoptera are largely dominant with 7 families. Diptera are second with 5 families. The Hemiptera are in third place. The zooplanktonic fauna of the Daya is divided into 2 groups: Cladocerans which are represented by three genera (Bosmina, Daphnia and Diaphanosoma) and Copepods which are represented only by the genus Cyclops.The physicochemical results showed a strong mineralization in the Daya. This is probably the combined effect of the degradation of the waters of the Daya of Dar Bouazza and the water table of the coastal chaouia, of which Daya is part. These results are confirmed by bacteriological tests through the identification and enumeration of Coliforms and intestinal Streptococci. The presence of these bacteria translates a pollution of fecal origin making these waters unfit for human use.

Complex Plastids and the Evolution of the Marine Phytoplankton

Photosynthesis allows for the formation of biomass from inorganic carbon and therefore greatly enhances the amount of organic material on planet Earth. Especially, oxygenic photosynthesis removed a major bottleneck in the formation of biomass by utilising ubiquitous water (H2O) and CO2 molecules as raw materials for organic molecules. This, over billions of years, shaped the world into the form we know today, with an oxygen-containing atmosphere, largely oxygenated water bodies and landmasses consisting of sediment rocks. Oxygenic photosynthesis furthermore enabled the evolution of aerobic energy metabolism, and it would be very difficult to imagine animal (including human) life in the absence of molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor. Oxygenic photosynthesis first, and exclusively, evolved in cyanobacteria. However, eukaryotes also learned to photosynthesise, albeit with a trick, which is the integration of formerly free-living cyanobacteria into the eukaryotic cell. There, the former bacteria became endosymbionts, and from these endosymbionts, the photosynthetic organelles (termed plastids) evolved. In almost all major groups of eukaryotes, plastid-containing members are found. At the same time, plastid-related features also indicate that these plastids form a monophyletic group. This can be explained by the transfer of plastids between the eukaryotic super-groups, leading to plastids being found in groups that are otherwise non-photosynthetic. In this chapter, we discuss the evolutionary origin of plastids, with a special emphasis on the evolution of plankton algae, such as diatoms or dinoflagellates, who acquired their plastids from other photosynthetic eukaryotes.