Species Substitution and Country of Origin Mislabeling of Catfish Products on the U.S. Commercial Market

Catfish belong to the order Siluriformes and include both the Ictaluridae and Pangasiidae families. However, U.S. labeling laws require only species of the family Ictaluridae to be marketed as catfish. The lower production price of Pangasiidae, combined with changes in regulations over time, have resulted in high potential for species substitution and country of origin mislabeling among catfish products. The objective of this study was to conduct a market survey of catfish products sold at the U.S. retail level to examine species mislabeling and compliance with Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations. A total of 80 catfish samples were collected from restaurants, grocery stores and fish markets in Orange County, CA. DNA was extracted from each sample and tested with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the InstantID™ U.S. Catfish Assay Kit for Ictaluridae spp. (InstantLabs). Samples that tested negative for Ictaluridae were tested with real-time PCR using the InstantID Asian Catfish Assay Kit for Pangasiidae spp. DNA barcoding was used as a final test in cases where species could not be identified with either of the real-time PCR assays. Overall, 7 of the 80 catfish products were found to be substituted with Pangasiidae species for a mislabeling rate of 9%. This included 5 of the 40 restaurant samples and 2 of the 32 grocery store samples. Additionally, 59% of grocery store samples were not compliant with COOL regulations. The results of this study reveal the occurrence of catfish mislabeling on the U.S. commercial market and suggest the need for continuous monitoring of these products

Magnetocaloric effect and magnetization in a Ni-Mn-Ga Heusler alloy in the vicinity of magnetostructural transition

The magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a Ni2.19Mn0.81Ga alloy with coupled magnetic and structural (martensitic) phase transitions were studied experimentally and theoretically. The magnetocaloric effect was measured by a direct method in magnetic fields 0-26 kOe at temperatures close to the magnetostructural transition temperature. For theoretical description of the alloy properties near the magnetostructural transition a statistical model is suggested, that takes into account the coexistence of martensite and austenite domains in the vicinity of martensite transformation point.Comment: presented at ICM-2003, to appear in JMM

Penjabaran Asas-Asas Pembaharuan Agraria Berdasarkan Tap MPR No. IX/MPR/2001 dalam Perundang-undangan di Bidang Pertanahan

This research discusses whether Agrarian Reform principles have been synchronous with the Indonesian land laws and Basic Agrarian Law and how those principles are implemented within government regulations on land law. Results show that, instead of manifesting, numerous government regulations are contradicting the principles therefore should be revoked or amended. Penelitian ini membahas apakah asasasas Pembaruan Agraria telah sejalan dengan hukum pertanahan Indonesia dan UUPA serta bagaimana asas-asas tersebut diterapkan dalam peraturan-peraturan pemerintah di bidang pertanahan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa, alih-alih mengejawantahkan, banyak PP yang bertentangan dengan asas Pembaruan Agraria sehingga harus dicabut atau diamandemen

Cognitive activity of students as a necessary condition for their successful professional self-determination

В статье освещается ход реализации экспериментального проекта, направленного на формирование новых подходов в профессиональной ориентации молодежи к освоению профессий IT-отрасли. Анализируется связь между уровнем познавательной активности обучающихся и достижением целей экспериментальной деятельности. Обосновывается целесообразность создания профильных классов IT-направленности. The article highlights the progress of the implementation of the pilot project aimed at the formation of new approaches in the professional orientation of young people to the development of professions in the IT industry. The relationship between the level of cognitive activity of students and the achievement of the goals of experimental activity is analyzed. The expediency of creating specialized IT-oriented classes is substantiated

Centre d’études byzantines, néo-helléniques et sud-est européennes

Georges Drettas, chargé de recherche au CNRS Dans le prolongement de la réflexion commencée l’année précédente, nous avons examiné les ensembles dialectaux de notre zone. L’introduction méthodologique a eu pour objet de faire le point sur la place de la dialectologie dans la linguistique moderne. L’examen s’est focalisé sur l’origine et le développement de certaines représentations des faits linguistiques. L’histoire qui commence à la fin du XIXe siècle reflète l’influence de modèles emprunté..

AN OVERVIEW OF THE INTEGRATED CRATE INTERROGATION SYSTEM (ICIS) FOR USE AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE

ABSTRACT The Integrated Crate Interrogation System (ICIS) was developed for use at the Savannah River Site to assay transuranic waste in large containers. The system comprises a Box Segmented Gamma Scanner (BSGS) providing high resolution gamma spectroscopy, and a Box Neutron Assay System (BNAS) providing passive neutron counting capability. The multi-modality approach is taken where the assay results from the gamma and neutron systems are combined to complement each other in satisfying Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) criteria. This paper gives an overview of the system that has been built, factory calibrated, and delivered to the site. The BSGS is similar to a standard Canberra Segmented Gamma Box Counter, but with the addition of a transmission option for ascertaining density and rudimentary fill-height information. This supplements the Multi-Curve approach based on efficiency in energy and density. The BSGS has a moving trolley which travels on rails through a passive emission counting station using large BEGe detectors, and a transmission counting station using NaI detectors in conjunction with high-and low-beam transmission stages. The assay result provides information on the Pu, Am and/or U isotopic ratios using standard isotopic analysis codes, quantitative measurement of Pu and U for low and medium density matrices, and direct measurement of other gamma emitters in the waste that are not identified in the isotopic measurement. It also provides basic positional information to improve the accuracy of both the gamma and the neutron measurement

Клик-химия и методы молекулярного моделирования в компьютерном дизайне и идентификации потенциальных ингибиторов ВИЧ-1

An integrated approach including the click chemistry methodology, molecular docking, quantum mechanics, and molecular dynamics was used to perform the computer-aided design of potential HIV-1 inhibitors able to block the membrane- proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41 that plays an important role in the fusion of the viral and host cell membranes. Evaluation of the binding efficiency of the designed compounds to the HIV-1 MPER peptide was performed using the methods of molecular modeling, resulting in nine chemical compounds that exhibit the high-affinity binding to this functionally important site of the trimeric “spike” of the viral envelope. The data obtained indicate that the identified compounds are promising for the development of novel antiviral drugs, HIV fusion inhibitors blocking the early stages of HIV infection.С помощью комплексного подхода, включающего методологию клик-химии, молекулярный докинг, квантовую механику и молекулярную динамику, осуществлен компьютерный дизайн потенциальных ингибиторов ВИЧ-1, способных блокировать мембрано-проксимальную внешнюю область (MPER, Membrane-Proximal External Region) белка gp41, играющую важную роль в процессе слияния мембран вируса и клетки хозяина. Методами молекулярного моделирования выполнена оценка эффективности связывания сконструированных соединений с пептидом MPER ВИЧ-1, в результате которой идентифицированы девять химических соединений, характеризующихся высокой аффинностью связывания с этим функционально важным участком оболочки вируса. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о перспективности использования этих соединений в работах по созданию новых противовирусных препаратов – ингибиторов слияния ВИЧ, блокирующих ранние стадии развития ВИЧ инфекции

A community effort in SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery.

peer reviewedThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a substantial threat to human lives and is likely to do so for years to come. Despite the availability of vaccines, searching for efficient small-molecule drugs that are widely available, including in low- and middle-income countries, is an ongoing challenge. In this work, we report the results of an open science community effort, the "Billion molecules against Covid-19 challenge", to identify small-molecule inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 or relevant human receptors. Participating teams used a wide variety of computational methods to screen a minimum of 1 billion virtual molecules against 6 protein targets. Overall, 31 teams participated, and they suggested a total of 639,024 molecules, which were subsequently ranked to find 'consensus compounds'. The organizing team coordinated with various contract research organizations (CROs) and collaborating institutions to synthesize and test 878 compounds for biological activity against proteases (Nsp5, Nsp3, TMPRSS2), nucleocapsid N, RdRP (only the Nsp12 domain), and (alpha) spike protein S. Overall, 27 compounds with weak inhibition/binding were experimentally identified by binding-, cleavage-, and/or viral suppression assays and are presented here. Open science approaches such as the one presented here contribute to the knowledge base of future drug discovery efforts in finding better SARS-CoV-2 treatments.R-AGR-3826 - COVID19-14715687-CovScreen (01/06/2020 - 31/01/2021) - GLAAB Enric

Influence of change in raw material composition on agglomeration and physical properties of coffe drink

Celem pracy była próba optymalizacji aglomeracji w złożu fluidalnym napoju kawowego w proszku. Wykazano dominujący wpływ cukru na właściwości badanych mieszanin. Proces aglomeracji mieszanin wpłynął na polepszenie właściwości fizycznych. Uzyskano produkty o większym rozmiarze cząstek i niższej gęstości nasypowej, dobrych zdolnościach do płynięcia oraz wykazujące cechę inslanl.The aim of this study was the optimization of agglomeration in a fluid-ized bed of dry coffee drink. It was shown that sugar had a major impact on properties of tested mixtures. The agglomeration process improved physical properties of mixtures. Powders obtained were characterized by larger particles, lower bulk density, good flowability and typical instant properties

Development of Molecular Autoencoders as Generators of Protein Inhibitors: Application for Prediction of Potential Drugs Against Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

A generative autoencoder for the rational design of potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease able to block the catalytic site of this functionally important viral enzyme was developed