Scientific Surveys Research Articles

Trends in Light and Temperature Sensitivity Recommendations among Licensed Biotechnology Drug Products

PurposeInherent structural and functional properties of biotechnology-derived therapeutic biologics make them susceptible to light- and temperature-induced degradation and consequently can influence their quality. Photosensitivity of therapeutic proteins continues to be examined, but the commonalities and trends of storage conditions and information about light and temperature sensitivity among currently licensed therapeutic proteins has not been previously surveyed.MethodsUsing a comprehensive and relational database approach, we conducted a scientific survey of all licensed biotechnology-derived drug products with the goal of providing evidence-based information about recommended storage conditions of formulations sorted by light- and temperature-related attributes as described for each product at licensure.ResultsWe report the prevalence of indications for light and temperature sensitivity in formulations categorized by their presentation type, number of doses, container type, dosage form and active molecule type. We also report the storage temperature range across formulations and diluents for reconstitution and dilution. Formulations with excipients that potentially facilitate light-induced and thermal degradation were also noted.ConclusionsThe result of our analysis indicates that light and temperature sensitivity are prevalent across therapeutic protein formulations. However, when a formulation is reconstituted or diluted, both light and temperature sensitivity are less clear. In addition, light and temperature sensitivity are more well defined in liquid formulations than lyophilized powder formulations, and more well defined in products manufactured in autoinjectors, prefilled-syringes, and pens than products in vials. Overall, our report provides a data-driven summary of storage conditions among therapeutic protein formulations to support the development of future biologic drug products.

(976) Assessment of Clinical Practices and Unmet Needs in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) - A Global Cross-Sectional Scientific Survey (CLARITY)

(976) Assessment of Clinical Practices and Unmet Needs in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) - A Global Cross-Sectional Scientific Survey (CLARITY)

Overcoming gaps in a seasonal time series of Japanese anchovy abundance to analyse interannual trends

Monitoring and understanding the level of exploitation and stock status of target and bycatch species are essential for effective fishery management and conserving biological diversity. Pursuit of these objectives is often challenging where yield statistics are unavailable, especially when scientific surveys are spatially and seasonally unbalanced. To address this issue, we attempt to combine recently developed methods to construct an assessment framework using Japanese anchovy (“anchovy”; Engraulis japonicus) in the Bohai Sea as an example. First, based on data from surveys conducted in spring, summer and autumn in the Bohai Sea during 2009–2019, we developed a seasonal spatio-temporal model for anchovy to interpolate missing observations thereby obtaining a continuous time series of abundance. Then, we fitted the abundance maximum sustainable yield (AMSY) model using the spring, summer, autumn, and seasonal average indices of abundance to obtain long-term trends in the stock status of anchovy. The model indicated that at the end of the survey series in 2019 there was a 17.6%–22.6% probability that the anchovy stock was in a sustainable state, 51.1%–69.3% probability it was in a period of recovery and 10.3%–29.8% probability it was declining. The relative stock size gained significant recovery throughout the study period, reaching a healthy level during 2016–2018. Our assessment framework enabled the estimation of anchovy stock status in the Bohai Sea in the absence of yield data, a process which will facilitate the assessment of other fishery resources in waters without yield statistics to provide estimates of local stock status for managers to take measures to avoid local depletion of those resources.

A ray of hope? The re-appearance of Irish Sea skate decades after local extinction.

A 2019 photograph of a blue skate Dipturus batis caught in Welsh waters is the first species-specific evidence of the "common skate" complex occurring in its former range in the main body of the Irish Sea over four decades after it was considered to have been extirpated there. This possible precursor to recolonisation of former range adds to growing evidence for the recovery of skate species in the North Atlantic and highlights the valuable role of anglers and social media as a complement to important, yet costly, scientific surveys when monitoring rare fishes.

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) assessment approaches in the North and Baltic Sea: A comparison of environmental DNA analysis versus bottom trawl sampling

The assessment of fish stocks is often dependent on scientific trawl fisheries surveys, which are both invasive and costly. The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples is regarded as a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative, but meaningful performance evaluations are required for a wider application. The goal of this study was to comparatively analyze a newly developed, more sensitive real-time PCR based eDNA approach with bottom trawl fisheries catches to locally detect and quantify Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the North and Baltic Seas. With a species-specificity of the qPCR assay of 100%, a minimal limit of 15 Cytochrome b eDNA copies was determined for the detection of cod. In addition, a Gaussian processing regression proved a significant correlation (95%) between eDNA (copies per L of water) and cod biomass (CPUE/Ha) found by bottom trawling. The results presented here prove the potential of eDNA analyses for quantitative assessments of commercial fish stocks in the open ocean, although additional comparative analyses are needed to demonstrate its performance under different oceanographic conditions.

Feeding ecology of redfish (Sebastes sp.) inferred from the integrated use of fatty acid profiles as complementary dietary tracers to stomach content analysis.

In the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (nGSL), redfish (Sebastes mentella and Sebastes fasciatus combined) are at record levels of abundance following the strong recruitment of three consecutive cohorts in 2011-2013 and have become by far the most abundant demersal fish in the region. Understanding redfish trophic relationships is essential for the effective management and conservation of species in the nGSL ecosystem. To date, description and quantification of redfish diet in the region have been restricted to conventional stomach content analysis (SCA). Using analysis of fatty acid (FA) profiles as complementary dietary tracers, the authors conducted multivariate analyses on 350 livers of redfish which were collected in combination with stomach contents during a bottom-trawl scientific survey in August 2017. The predator FA profiles were compared to those of eight different redfish prey types identified as dietary important with SCA. Results suggested similitude between SCA and FA results, with zooplankton prey being more related to small (<20 cm) and medium (20-30 cm) redfish (16:1n7, 20:1n?, 22:1n9 and 20:5n3) than large (≥30 cm) ones, whereas shrimp prey seemed more related to large redfish size classes (18:2n6 and 22:6n3) relative to the small and medium ones. Although the SCA offers a glimpse in the diet only based on the most recently consumed prey, analysis of FA profiles provides a mid-term view indicating pelagic zooplankton consumption on calanoid copepod and confirming high predation pressure on shrimp. This study constitutes the first attempt of combining FA with SCA to assess the diet of redfish, highlights the benefits of FA as a qualitative tool and suggests improvements for future studies.

The development of female science and technology workers in China: Achievements, problems and suggestions

Female science and technology (S&amp;T) workers have played an increasingly important role in scientific research in China and have made remarkable contributions to that field. Using scientific surveys and publicly available awards data, this paper examines the specific status of female S&amp;T workers, including the workforce structure, their domestic contributions and their international influence. Our analysis reveals the problems encountered by female S&amp;T workers in research output, working time, development opportunities and professional voice, as well as the challenges they face during pregnancy and postnatal nursing. To solve these problems, relevant government departments should introduce more effective steps, respect women's contributions, step up publicity and provide effective assurance policies to promote the long-term and in-depth development of female scientific researchers.

The impact of the strategy of participatory reading in the acquisition of rhetorical concepts among students of the fifth grade literary and the development of scientific research

The present research aims to identify (the impact of the strategy of participatory reading in the acquisition of rhetorical concepts among students of the fifth grade literary and the development of scientific research). The number of students of the study sample (70) students, distributed to two experimental and control groups (35) students in each group and studied the experimental group students according to the strategy of participatory reading, while the students of the control group studied according to the usual method. The students of the experimental and control groups were rewarded in variables: (ages in months and in the tribal scientific survey scale. The researcher prepared a test of the acquisition of rhetorical concepts consisting of (36) items of multiple choice type, (each concept had three levels of objectives: definition, discrimination, application) and verify the validity and reliability, as well as conducting statistical analyzes of its paragraphs, the researcher also prepared a measure for scientific survey According to the Campbell Scale (1971, Campbell), translated by Ayesh Zaytoun (1996), it may be composed of seven groups and included (36) paragraphs and verified its validity and consistency. (9) Developed a daily teaching plan for the experimental group and the same officer. In accordance with the steps of the strategy of participatory reading and teaching plans of the curriculum. The group of officers according to the usual method. The experiment was applied in the first semester of the academic year (2020-2021). Data were treated statistically using t-test of two independent and interrelated samples. The results showed that the experimental group studied according to the participatory reading strategy was superior to their peers in the control group which was studied in the usual method of testing the acquisition of rhetorical concepts. In the light of the results of the research, the researcher has drawn a number of conclusions, recommendations and proposals.

House Flies Are Underappreciated Yet Important Reservoirs and Vectors of Microbial Threats to Animal and Human Health.

House flies are well recognized as filth-associated organisms and public nuisances. House flies create sanitation issues when they bridge the gap between microbe-rich breeding environments and animal/human habitations. Numerous scientific surveys have demonstrated that house flies harbor bacterial pathogens that pose a threat to humans and animals. More extensive and informative surveys incorporating next-generation sequencing technologies have shown that house fly carriage of pathogens and harmful genetic elements, such as antimicrobial resistance genes, is more widespread and dangerous than previously thought. Further, there is a strong body of research confirming that flies not only harbor but also transmit viable, and presumably infectious, bacterial pathogens. Some pathogens replicate and persist in the fly, permitting prolonged shedding and dissemination. Finally, although the drivers still have yet to be firmly determined, the potential range of dissemination of flies and their associated pathogens can be extensive. Despite this evidence, the house flies' role as reservoirs, disseminators, and true, yet facultative, vectors for pathogens have been greatly underestimated and underappreciated. In this review, we present key studies that bolster the house fly's role both an important player in microbial ecology and population biology and as transmitters of microbial threats to animal and human health.

Developing and Disseminating a New Historical Geospatial Database from Kitchener’s 19th Century Map of Cyprus

Extraction and dissemination of historical geospatial data from early maps are major goals of historical geographic information systems (HGISs) in the context of the spatial humanities. This paper illustrates the process of interpreting, georeferencing, organizing, and visualizing the content of a historical map of Cyprus in the context of GISs and highlights the development of a national-scale spatial database of the island in the 19th century. This method was applied to Lord Kitchener’s historical map of Cyprus (published in 1885), which is considered the product of the first scientific topographic survey of Cyprus, is rich in geographic information about the area, and covers the entire island at a scale of 1:63,360. Previous attempts to create historical geodatabases have either focused on small areas or, when conducted on a national scale, have been thematically focused. The positional accuracy of the map was found to be 1.08 mm in map units, which was equivalent to 68.76 m on the ground. Accordingly, the main categories of geographic content (land cover, administrative units, settlements, transportation/communication networks, stream networks/water bodies, points of interest, annotations) were digitized from the georeferenced historical map. The Web-based application developed in this study supported the visualization of the historical geographic content of the map and its comparison with modern basemaps. The creation of the geodatabase presented in the study provides a template for similar studies and a basis for further development of the historical geodatabase of Cyprus.

Contrasting stock status trends obtained from survey and fishery CPUE, taking Larimichthys polyactis in Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem as an example

Biological conservation of exploited fish species involves characterizing key aspects of their population dynamics using models as tools to estimate their biomass. The Bayesian state-space surplus production model in the open-source stock assessment tool Just Another Bayesian Biomass Assessment (JABBA) was used to assess small yellow croaker stock (Larimichthys polyactis) in the Yellow Sea large marine ecosystem (YSLME). In this study, Catch and the scientific survey catch per unit effort (CPUE) data of the overwintering grounds of small yellow croaker from 1985 to 2020 and three fishery CPUE data series (one original and two reconstructed) from the Chinese Fishery Statistical Yearbook were used to fit JABBA, respectively. The results showed that the trends in biomass obtained from the survey CPUE and from the fishery CPUE contrasted sharply. The independent survey CPUE-based JABBA showed a 54.4 % probability that the current resource status is over exploited (0.65 and 1.06 for B2020/BMSY and F2020/FMSY, respectively), whereas the fishery CPUE-based JABBA showed that the resource is in a healthy or recovering state (0.88–1.32 and 0.40–0.70 for B2020/BMSY and F2020/FMSY, respectively), and the estimates of the resource are overly optimistic. This discrepancy in biomass assessment arises because the fishing effort time series does not adequately reflect the technological advances in fishing vessels and their equipment. Therefore, assessment based on survey CPUE (predicted total allowable catch, TAC = 150,000 tons) is the preferable, more precautionary approach for establishing management reference points and informing management decisions, and estimates generated from the fisheries CPUE-based JABBA model (TAC = 165,000–210,000 tons) should be treated with caution. We found that the two reconstructed fishery CPUEs are more likely to produce model results closer to that of the survey CPUE-based JABBA than the original fishery CPUE. Further review and research on the correction of fishing effort and fishery CPUE in the YSLME is recommended before this data series is used in assessments aimed at biological conservation.

The impact of the strategy of participatory reading in the acquisition of rhetorical concepts among students of the fifth grade literary and the development of scientific research

The present research aims to identify (the impact of the strategy of participatory reading in the acquisition of rhetorical concepts among students of the fifth grade literary and the development of scientific research). The number of students of the study sample (70) students, distributed to two experimental and control groups (35) students in each group and studied the experimental group students according to the strategy of participatory reading, while the students of the control group studied according to the usual method. The students of the experimental and control groups were rewarded in variables: (ages in months and in the tribal scientific survey scale. The researcher prepared a test of the acquisition of rhetorical concepts consisting of (36) items of multiple choice type, (each concept had three levels of objectives: definition, discrimination, application) and verify the validity and reliability, as well as conducting statistical analyzes of its paragraphs, the researcher also prepared a measure for scientific survey According to the Campbell Scale (1971, Campbell), translated by Ayesh Zaytoun (1996), it may be composed of seven groups and included (36) paragraphs and verified its validity and consistency. (9) Developed a daily teaching plan for the experimental group and the same officer. In accordance with the steps of the strategy of participatory reading and teaching plans of the curriculum. The group of officers according to the usual method. The experiment was applied in the first semester of the academic year (2020-2021). Data were treated statistically using t-test of two independent and interrelated samples. The results showed that the experimental group studied according to the participatory reading strategy was superior to their peers in the control group which was studied in the usual method of testing the acquisition of rhetorical concepts. In the light of the results of the research, the researcher has drawn a number of conclusions, recommendations and proposals.

The Heritage Impact Study Assessment (HIA) in the sustainable development of the Coast of Melaka

Through the strategic plan of Melakaku Maju Jaya 2035 (PSMJ 2035), the State of Melaka has implemented several modern development policies aimed at triggering the economy and increasing the state’s revenue. One of the aspects applied is the question of land development in Melaka through the introduction of the Melaka-Waterfront Economic Zone (M-WEZ) project. This development project involves the development of an area of 10,117 hectares along the coast of Central Melaka. However, the results of this development planning have directly triggered a polemic among state policy planners and the National Heritage Department, since this development involves several very sensitive issues. Among the issues that are often raised is the preservation and conservation of the heritage and history of the state of Melaka. Therefore, the writing of this article will describe the role and process of Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) as a conflict-solving tool in assessing the implications, as well as provide recommendations and mitigation measures that need to be implemented in any area to be developed, especially in the aspect of maritime HIA study, to enable both the sustainable development and maintenance of the historical heritage of the state of Melaka to move in line with development. Highlights HIA acts as a conflict-solving tool in the dispute of heritage versus development in the Melaka coastal area Methodology used in the HIA study involves local oral history (interviewing informants), scientific survey, and visual survey Artifacts found in the Melaka coastal area in this HIA study are not so significant to the state's heritage and history Developers need to be careful during the reclamation stage as precautionary measures The establishment of the Heritage Impact Assessment study is a significant step forward regarding the conservation and protection of the cultural World Heritage values

Exploring reconfiguration of trends in CPUE to model sustainable TAC options for the pivotal YSLME anchovy fishery

Sustainable utilization of exploited fish stocks generally relies on characterizing key aspects of their population dynamics using mathematical models to evaluate their stock status. In this study, the Anchovy population (Engraulis japonicus) in the Yellow Sea large marine ecosystem (YSLME) was evaluated by using the ‘Just Another Bayesian Biomass Assessment’ (JABBA) model. Catch and the anchovy scientific survey biomass index data from 1989 to 2021 in its nominal or raw form, plus three adjusted CPUE trends using data acquired from the China Fishery Statistical Yearbook were each used to fit JABBA to explore the performance of reconfigured CPUE for setting a total allowable catch (TAC) quota to sustain the YSLME commercial anchovy fishery. Results showed contrasting trends in estimated biomass from the fishery independent surveys, and nominal and reconfigured commercial fishery CPUE, with the latter producing the most plausible results. The JABBA output based on the scientific survey biomass index indicated a 56.7% probability that the anchovy stock is currently healthy with 1.04B2021/BMSYand 0.51F2021/FMSYratios, whereas JABBA estimates based on the nominal commercial CPUE-based were overly optimistic (100% probability stock was healthy). JABBA outputs based on the first two reconfigured CPUEs (FacpueyandFECcpuey) countered this overoptimism, with the survey biomass index-based assessment results lying between the extremes. This improvement in the modelled assessment was achieved because the reconfigured CPUE time series accommodated technological progress in fishing vessels and gear performance. Therefore, in instances where survey biomass index data are unavailable, we recommend using the two improved fishery CPUEs and combining the results of the two assessments to guide fishery management. Management reference points, however, should preferably be based on the more conservative of the two reconfigured CPUEs as a precautionary approach for setting a total allowable catch (TAC) whilst concomitantly considering the role of anchovy as prey for other economically important fish in the system.We encourage researchers to extensively review and improve the quality and availability of fisheries statistical data worldwide in the shared endeavour towards obtaining more realistic stock assessments.

Mind the gap in data poor Natura 2000 sites and how to tackle them using Earth Observation and scientific diving surveys

Charismatic species drives decisions for the conservation of marine areas in the view of the coverage of the Natura 2000 sites in the European Union and other forms of Marine Protected Areas in Europe. However, when used solely, critical seascapes and habitats are systematically ignored and practically it can take decades to fulfill baseline needs on habitats distributions, habitats conservation status and species distributions and biodiversity assessments. Luckily, in the last decade, the use of new technologies in conjunction with scientific diving and budget friendly hydroacoustic tools and applications, has allowed to fill the gap in knowledge in such situations and seascapes. The current work demonstrates the use of Earth Observation and Science Dive to fill the gap of knowledge in a newly established Natura 2000 area in Crete, Greece, East Mediterranean, paving the road for replicable approaches in similar situations.

A new species of Paraphoxus (Amphipoda, Phoxocephalidae) from Jeju Island, Korea

Abstract During a scientific survey, a new species of phoxocepalid amphipod, Paraphoxus jejuensis sp. nov., was found in the tidal flat of Jeju Island, Korea. Paraphoxus jejuensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeneric species by the following features: the presence of a conical-form of incisor on the right mandible, an expanded and subovate basis of pereopod 5, the presence of a single plumose facial seta on epimeron 2, the presence of a few baso-facial setae on the peduncle of uropod 1, the absence of marginal spines and setae on the rami of uropod 2, and the presence of two subapical spines on each lobe of the telson. This new species is described and illustrated herein.

Influence of habitat heterogeneity on avian diversity in the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir Himalaya

BackgroundThe value of local and regional landscapes for avian conservation requires a thorough understanding of the diversity and structure of bird communities. Avifauna serves as an important biological indicator in monitoring the health of an ecosystem or environment. The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between avian diversity, richness, composition and habitat characteristics at the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary.ResultsUsing geographic information systems and remote sensing techniques, we analyzed habitat heterogeneity based on land use and land cover classification. For sampling birds, extensive surveys were conducted in different land-use types from 2019 to 2021, following the line transect method. During the study period, 102 bird species were recorded from the five studied vegetation types of the study area, including one near threatened (Bearded Vulture) and one vulnerable (Kashmir Flycatcher) bird species. The highest numbers of avian species were recorded from the forest (71 species) (42.61 ± 16; mean ± SD) and the lowest from the rocky land-use type (12 species) (7.83 ± 1.95). The individual rarefaction and extrapolation curves showed higher species richness for forest and the lowest for rocky habitats. Numerous pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in species richness among studied habitat types, except for riverine vs. grassland, scrub vs. grassland and rocky vs. riverine land uses. The partitioning of the spatio-temporal β-diversity patterns revealed a relatively large contribution of the turnover component to the observed overall dissimilarity compared to the nestedness component.ConclusionsIt can be concluded that avian communities in the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary are influenced by habitat heterogeneity, topography, and the availability of water. The results of the present study indicate that the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary provides an important habitat for the conservation of birds, as it harbors a rich avian diversity. The study is the first scientific survey of the avian habitat associations in the protected area and will serve as a baseline for future avian research, as well as for management implications in the region.

The German-Jewish paediatrician Albert Eckstein (1891-1950) exiled to Turkey: Pioneering modern paediatric care and social hygiene (health sciences) during World War II

During the thirties of the twentieth century, German medical doctors immigrated to Turkey. Among them, was the German-Jewish paediatrician Albert Eckstein. In this short biography, the richness of the literature, written by or about Eckstein, will be presented, and altogether combined. Starting from 1937 and further on, Albert Eckstein undertook scientific surveys on children’s state of health and health care in the most remote areas of Anatolia. The value of the social-hygienic approach could be recognized, even in this early stage, starting with epidemiological analysis and followed by basic comprehensive health care. Social hygiene, as a young branch of health sciences at the time, was in the position even then to model the health care system for large population groups, at least in countries actively developing health care, as was Turkey of that time. Albert Eckstein and his co-workers, such as Ihsan Dogramaci, stand out as founders of the modern Turkish health care system today and health sciences in this country.

Identifying mature fish aggregation areas during spawning season by combining catch declarations and scientific survey data

Identifying and protecting essential fish habitats like spawning grounds requires an accurate knowledge of fish spatio-temporal distribution. Commercial declarations coupled with Vessel Monitoring System provide fine scale information on the full year to map fish distribution and identify essential habitats. We developed an integrated framework to infer fish spatial distribution on a monthly time step by combining scientific and commercial data while explicitly considering the preferential sampling of fisher towards areas of higher biomass. We developed a method to identify areas of persistent aggregation of biomass during the spawning season and interpret these as spawning areas. The model is applied to infer maps of relative biomass for three species (sole, whiting and squids) in the Bay of Biscay on a monthly time step over a 9 year period. Integrating several fleets in inference provides a good coverage of the area and improves model predictions. The preferential sampling parameters give insights into the temporal dynamics of the targeting behavior of the different fleets. Last, persistent aggregation areas reveal consistent with the available literature on spawning grounds, highlighting the potential of our approach to identify reproduction areas.

Science Integration in Alternative Learning System: Basis for an Enriched Basic Science Process Skills and Scientific Attitude of Lifelong Learners

This study focused on the effect of science integration approaches in enhancing the basic science process skills and scientific attitudes of junior high school lifelong learners in the Alternative Learning System. A pretest-posttest experimental design was employed to collect the data from 60 junior high school learners using researcher-made science process skills tests and a scientific attitudinal survey. Findings revealed that there is a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test scores of respondents exposed to science intradisciplinary integration and that of those exposed to the science interdisciplinary integration approach. Furthermore, both groups of respondents have the same level of scientific skills before being exposed to science integration approaches. The post-test results of the two groups were significantly different, indicating that the interdisciplinary integration approach better enhanced the basic science process skills of the students. In addition, it was found that learners have the same level of scientific attitude even after being exposed to science integration approaches. In the profile of respondents, the findings also revealed that there is a significant difference in the students’ science process skills in terms of observing and communicating when grouped according to age. Moreover, it was confirmed in the study that there is no significant difference in the level of science process skills except for communicating and the level of scientific attitude except for open-mindedness when grouped according to marital status. It was also confirmed that sex and employment status are not significant factors in the enhancement of scientific skills and attitudes of ALS learners. Science integration approaches are crucial in enhancing the basic science process skills and scientific attitudes of learners. Thus, the implementation of intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches in teaching science could be recommended. Keywords: basic science process skills, intradisciplinary, interdisciplinary, scientific attitude, science integration