Exploring barriers to 'Respondent driven sampling' in sex worker and drug-injecting sex worker populations in Eastern Europe

Respondent driven sampling (RDS) has been used in several counties to sample injecting drug users, sex workers (SWs) and men who have sex with men and as a means of collecting behavioural and biological health data. We report on the use of RDS in three separate studies conducted among SWs between 2004 and 2005 in the Russian Federation, Serbia, and Montenegro. Findings suggest that there are limitations associated with the use of RDS in SW populations in these regions. Findings highlight three main factors that merit further investigation as a means of assessing the feasibility and appropriateness of RDS in this high risk population: the network characteristics of SWs; the appropriate level of participant incentives; and lack of service contact. The highly controlled and hidden nature of SW organizations and weak SW social networks in the region can combine to undermine assumptions underpinning the feasibility of RDS approaches and potentially severely limit recruitment. We discuss the implications of these findings for recruitment and the use of monetary and non-monetary incentives in future RDS studies of SW populations in Eastern Europe

Expression of Ciona intestinalis AOX causes male reproductive defects in Drosophila melanogaster

Background: Mitochondrial alternative respiratory-chain enzymes are phylogenetically widespread, and buffer stresses affecting oxidative phosphorylation in species that possess them. However, they have been lost in the evolutionary lineages leading to vertebrates and arthropods, raising the question as to what survival or reproductive disadvantages they confer. Recent interest in using them in therapy lends a biomedical dimension to this question. Methods: Here, we examined the impact of the expression of Ciona intestinalis alternative oxidase, AOX, on the reproductive success of Drosophila melanogaster males. Sperm-competition assays were performed between flies carrying three copies of a ubiquitously expressed AOX construct, driven by the a-tubulin promoter, and wild-type males of the same genetic background. Results: In sperm-competition assays, AOX conferred a substantial disadvantage, associated with decreased production of mature sperm. Sperm differentiation appeared to proceed until the last stages, but was spatially deranged, with spermatozoids retained in the testis instead of being released to the seminal vesicle. High AOX expression was detected in the outermost cell-layer of the testis sheath, which we hypothesize may disrupt a signal required for sperm maturation. Conclusions: AOX expression in Drosophila thus has effects that are deleterious to male reproductive function. Our results imply that AOX therapy must be developed with caution.Peer reviewe

Bacterial iron-oxide nanowires from biofilm waste as a new adsorbent for the removal of arsenic from water

Biofilm, generated by the bacteria in the groundwater pumping system pipelines of the Salt Interception Scheme on the River Murray in South Australia is discarded as a waste material accumulated after periodic cleaning of the pipes. Structural and chemical composition characterizations confirm that this waste material is composed of amorphous twisted iron-oxide nanowires (ION), generated by bacteria, and they have a unique structure and properties. The adsorption performance of these iron-oxide nanowires for arsenic removal from water was evaluated to define their adsorption capacity for As(III) and As(V) and kinetics. Obtained results demonstrate considerable adsorption properties of this waste biological material and suggest its promising application as a new and low-cost adsorbent for water treatment.Ivan Andjelkovic, Sara Azari, Mason Erkelens, Peter Forward, Martin F. Lambert and Dusan Losi

The Effect of Addition of Lucerne Biomass and NPN Substances on Quality of Grape Pomace Silage

Grape pomace (GP) of white varieties without stalks was ensiled by the method of single factor trial in the two treatments: in the first treatment, with the addition of lucerne biomass (L) of the last cut, which was harvested at the stage of forming pods with equal shares in the weight ratio and in the second with the addition of Benural S (B) in the amount of 1%. Chemical analyses were conducted on GP and L to determine the suitability of biomass for silage and to determine the chemical composition and nutritional value and the process of lactic acid fermentation. It has been found that the biomass of GP had 2 times higher concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC 140.5:69.4 gkg-1DM) relative to L, and a lower buffer capacity (BC) what makes it 10 times more favourable for ensiling (ratio WSC/BC 13.1 : 1.3). GP, as compared to L, had lower contents of CP, CF, and a lower nutritional value expressed in NEL and NEM units and a higher content of crude fat. Silage with the equal share of GP + L compared to silage with GP + B had a slightly lower CF and significantly less crude fat and ash, especially Ca. More favourable ratio Ca : P (2.93 : 1) was established in silage GP + L compared to 10.1:1 silage GP + B. Silages GP + L in the fermentation process were scored/rated one class higher according to the DLG and Zelter assessment methods, compared to the silages GP + B. The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of ensiling grape pomace with equal proportion of biomass of lucerne and added NPN substances and to determine the detailed chemical composition, nutritive value and silage quality on the basis of the process of lactic acid fermentation

Expression of Ciona intestinalis AOX causes male reproductive defects in Drosophila melanogaster

Background: Mitochondrial alternative respiratory-chain enzymes are phylogenetically widespread, and buffer stresses affecting oxidative phosphorylation in species that possess them. However, they have been lost in the evolutionary lineages leading to vertebrates and arthropods, raising the question as to what survival or reproductive disadvantages they confer. Recent interest in using them in therapy lends a biomedical dimension to this question. Methods: Here, we examined the impact of the expression of Ciona intestinalis alternative oxidase, AOX, on the reproductive success of Drosophila melanogaster males. Sperm-competition assays were performed between flies carrying three copies of a ubiquitously expressed AOX construct, driven by the a-tubulin promoter, and wild-type males of the same genetic background. Results: In sperm-competition assays, AOX conferred a substantial disadvantage, associated with decreased production of mature sperm. Sperm differentiation appeared to proceed until the last stages, but was spatially deranged, with spermatozoids retained in the testis instead of being released to the seminal vesicle. High AOX expression was detected in the outermost cell-layer of the testis sheath, which we hypothesize may disrupt a signal required for sperm maturation. Conclusions: AOX expression in Drosophila thus has effects that are deleterious to male reproductive function. Our results imply that AOX therapy must be developed with caution.Peer reviewe

Uv light impact on phthalates migration from children's toys into artificial saliva

Phthalates has been widely used in children?s toys as plastic plasticizers and softeners. Therefore, attention should be paid to plastic toys, especially those that children can put in their mouths. In this paper quantification of five phthalates: DMP, DnBP, BBP, DEHP and DnOP in plastic toys, as well as irradiation of toys with UV light was performed. After sample preparation and development of the liquid?liquid phthalate extraction method from artificial saliva phthalate quantitative determination using the GC?MS technique was performed. The mean recovery value for DEHP is 77.03?2.76 %. The determination of phthalate in the recipient models (artificial saliva and n-hexane) was performed after 6, 15 and 30 days of the migration test using the GC?MS technique. Based on the known mass % DEHP in the analyzed toys, the percentage of phthalate migration from each analyzed toy to the recipient model after 6, 15 and 30 days of the migration test was calculated. The results show that there is no significant migration of DEHP into artificial saliva, due to high polarity of the recipient (artificial saliva is polar), unlike n-hexane where the migration of DEHP is significant because it is a non-polar solvent

Influence of Higenamine on Exercise Performance of Recreational Female Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to determine the ergogenic effects and the safety profile of a one-component higenamine supplement in female recreational athletes. Twelve recreational female basketball players (age 29–41 years, oxygen consumption (VO2max) > 30 ml⋅kg–1⋅min–1, with training > 5 h wk–1) were randomized either to the higenamine group, or to the placebo group for 3 weeks. In order to determine ergogenic effects and safety profile of higenamine administration, we assessed the following variables before and after 3 weeks of supplementation: anthropometric parameters, resting metabolic rate (RMR), exercise testing variables, serum free fatty acids (FFAs), blood pressure, enzyme activity, urea, lipid profile, and complete blood count. There were no differences between groups in anthropometric parameters, including basal metabolic rate (BMR), RMR and body fat [p = 0.706 (Cohen’s d 0.223), p = 0.169 (Cohen’s d 0.857), and p = 0.223 (Cohen’s d 0.750), respectively], FFAs [0.43 ± 0.03 vs. 0.54 ± 0.23, p = 0.206 (Cohen’s d 0.540)], neither significant differences in cardiopulmonary parameters after the intervention period. Furthermore, all measured outcome variables in the safety assessment were not significant, with values remaining stable during the intervention period for participants in both groups. This is the first study to document the effects and the safety profile of higenamine-based dietary supplements at a specified dose in female recreational athletes. Our data indicate that 21-day of supplementation with 75 mg higenamine would not result in improving cardiopulmonary exercise fitness and weight loss in female recreational athletes. Moreover, supplementation with 75 mg higenamine is safe and well-tolerated in younger recreational female athletes

The Energy Value and Energy Yields of Alfalfa Forage Depending on the Cutting Time in Forage-Seed Production System

Economic importance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is reflected in the production of high-quality forage, however, the seeds of alfalfa are valuable commodity in the domestic and international markets. In Serbia, the seed is produced in forage-seed mode of exploitation where the second or third growth is used for seed production, and the remaining growths are used for fodder. The aim of this work was to determine the influence of cuttings and time of cutting on total energy value of hay in a model of forage and seed production. The second and third cuts were used as seed cut. In the variant where the second cut was used as seed cut, the first cut was harvested at different times (A1-early, A2-medium early, A3-late and A4- very late). In the model where the third cut was used for seed, two pre-cuts were used for forage production (A5). In all the following variants, seed cut was followed by one more cutting (final cut), used for the production of fodder. The highest average total production (from pre-cut and final cut) of NEL (34606 MJha-1) and NEM (33811 MJha-1) was realized in the system of cutting with two pre-cuts. In the variant with single pre-cut, the highest yield was formed in the early system. Later cutting of the first cut causes decline of NEL production and it was the lowest in the system of very late cutting or 15.1 % less than in the early system and 38% lower than in the system of cutting with two pre-cuts. Delaying of utilization of alfalfa to the later stages of exploitation has contributed to the lower yield of NEM and in the medium early system and late system and especially in the very late cutting system, where by 22.2 % less was realized than in the early production system. Studies have shown that late cutting of first cut resulted in the reduction of nutritional value expressed in the amount of net energy per unit area

Micro-And Nano-Tribological Behaviour Of Soybean Oil-Based Polymers Of Different Crosslinking Densities

ABSTRACT Biopolymers produced from renewable and inexpensive natural resources, such as natural oils, have drawn considerable attention over the past decade, due to their low cost, ready availability, environmental compatibility, and their inherent biodegradability. In this study, the micro/nanotribological wear behavior of biopolymers of different crosslinking densities prepared from low saturated soy-bean oil (LSS) by Rh-catalyzed isomerization with divinyl benzene and polystyrene are evaluated and compared. Microtribological measurements were performed using a ballon-flat reciprocating microtribometer using two different probes -1.2 mm radius Si 3 N 4 spherical probe and a 100 micron radius conical diamond probe with 90 0 cone angle. Nanoscale tests were done using a DLC coated antimony (n) doped silicon probe of radius ~200 nm. Wear volumes were estimated from groove geometry using Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and adhesive and abrasive wear coefficients were evaluated for the materials. Elastic modulus and hardness information were evaluated using tensile test and microhardness tests respectively. Correlations between cross-linking density and wear behavior were observed. These results provide some insight into the wear behavior of biorenewable materials