Reviewing taxonomic bias in a megadiverse country: primary biodiversity data, cultural salience, and scientific interest of South African animals

Taxonomic bias, resulting in some taxa receiving more attention than others, has been shown to persist throughout history. Such bias in primary biodiversity data needs to be addressed because the data are vital to environmental management. This study reviews taxonomic bias in South African primary biodiversity data obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The focus was specifically on animal classes, and regression analysis was used to assess the influence of scientific interest and cultural salience on taxonomic bias. A higher resolution analysis of the two explanatory variables’ influence on taxonomic bias is conducted using a generalised linear model on a subset of herpetofaunal families from the focal classes. Furthermore, the potential effects of cultural salience and scientific interest on a taxon’s extinction risk are investigated. The findings show that taxonomic bias in South Africa’s primary biodiversity data has similarities with global scale taxonomic bias. Among animal classes, there is strong bias towards birds while classes such as Polychaeta and Maxillopoda are under-represented. Cultural salience has a stronger influence on taxonomic bias than scientific interest. It is, however, unclear how these explanatory variables may influence the extinction risk of taxa. We recommend that taxonomic bias can be reduced if primary biodiversity data collection has a range of targets that guide (but do not limit) accumulation of species occurrence records per habitat. Within this range, a lower target of species occurrence records accommodates species that are difficult to detect. The upper target means occurrence records for any species are less urgent but nonetheless useful and thus data collection efforts can focus on species with fewer occurrence records.

Modern Approaches in the Discovery and Development of Plant-Based Natural Products and Their Analogues as Potential Therapeutic Agents

Natural products represents an important source of new lead compounds in drug discovery research. Several drugs currently used as therapeutic agents have been developed from natural sources; plant sources are specifically important. In the past few decades, pharmaceutical companies demonstrated insignificant attention towards natural product drug discovery, mainly due to its intrinsic complexity. Recently, technological advancements greatly helped to address the challenges and resulted in the revived scientific interest in drug discovery from natural sources. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various approaches used in the selection, authentication, extraction/isolation, biological screening, and analogue development through the application of modern drug-development principles of plant-based natural products. Main focus is given to the bioactivity-guided fractionation approach along with associated challenges and major advancements. A brief outline of historical development in natural product drug discovery and a snapshot of the prominent natural drugs developed in the last few decades are also presented. The researcher’s opinions indicated that an integrated interdisciplinary approach utilizing technological advances is necessary for the successful development of natural products. These involve the application of efficient selection method, well-designed extraction/isolation procedure, advanced structure elucidation techniques, and bioassays with a high-throughput capacity to establish druggability and patentability of phyto-compounds. A number of modern approaches including molecular modeling, virtual screening, natural product library, and database mining are being used for improving natural product drug discovery research. Renewed scientific interest and recent research trends in natural product drug discovery clearly indicated that natural products will play important role in the future development of new therapeutic drugs and it is also anticipated that efficient application of new approaches will further improve the drug discovery campaign.

Current Understanding of Water Properties inside Carbon Nanotubes

Confined water inside carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has attracted a lot of attention in recent years, amassing as a result a very large number of dedicated studies, both theoretical and experimental. This exceptional scientific interest can be understood in terms of the exotic properties of nanoconfined water, as well as the vast array of possible applications of CNTs in a wide range of fields stretching from geology to medicine and biology. This review presents an overreaching narrative of the properties of water in CNTs, based mostly on results from systematic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and molecular dynamics (MD) studies, which together allow the untangling and explanation of many seemingly contradictory results present in the literature. Further, we identify still-debatable issues and open problems, as well as avenues for future studies, both theoretical and experimental.

Tool Bits with Elastic Damping Inserted Elements Formed by Semi-Inserts with Different Rigidity

Vibration during turning is a consequence of premature tool wear and an increase in the roughness of parts. The designs of tool bits that increase their durability, reduce vibrations arising during the cutting process, and improve the quality of processing are of practical and scientific interest. Existing developments of vibration-damping bits with elastic damping inserts of constant rigidity, in which a holder or mandrel with a cut-off insert is installed, do not meet the requirements for the efficiency of vibration reduction due to the impossibility of the necessary vibration damping; the consumption of insert materials is high. Innovative designs of tool bits with inserts formed by semi-inserts with different rigidity are proposed, which allows improving the quality of processing by increasing the efficiency of vibration damping, reducing material consumption, because the length of the semi-inserts is less than half the length of the full insert. The tool bits can be used in the area of cutting materials, mechanical engineering and tool manufacturing.

Minireview: Peripheral Nesfatin-1 in Regulation of the Gut Activity–15 Years since the Discovery

Nesfatin-1, discovered in 2006, is an anorexigenic molecule derived from the precursor protein NEFA/nucleobindin2. It is generally postulated that this molecule acts through a specific G protein-coupled receptor, as yet unidentified. Research conducted over the last 15 years has revealed both central and peripheral actions of nesfatin-1. Given its major central role, studies determining its inhibitory effect on food intake seem to be of major scientific interest. However, in recent years a number of experiments have found that peripheral organs, including those of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), may also be a source (possibly even the predominant source) of nesfatin-1. This mini-review aimed to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the expression and immunoreactivity of nesfatin-1 and its possible involvement (both physiological and pathological) in the mammalian GIT. Research thus far has shown very promising abilities of nesfatin-1 to restore the balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants, to interplay with the gut microbiota, and to alter the structure of the intestinal barrier. This necessitates more extensive research on the peripheral actions of this molecule. More in-depth knowledge of such mechanisms (especially those leading to anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects) is important for a better understanding of the involvement of nefatin-1 in GIT pathophysiological conditions and/or for future therapeutic approaches.

Application of Extremophiles in Medicine and Pharmaceutical Industries

Extremophiles are at center stage of scientific interest owing to their peculiar properties in terms of physiology, ecology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics. The bio-active compounds from extremophiles involve various types of extremolytes. The functional applicability of extremophiles has been far-reaching. Looking to the global scenario medical, pharmaceutical and allied healthcare sectors have a persistent surge for a novel anticancer, antimicrobial, stable drug deliverables, nutraceuticals, fine chemicals, natural antioxidants, and bio-polymers compounds. Genetic engineering tools clubbed with -omics approach enhance and better the chances for applicability of the extremophilic metabolites in varied sectors of red and yellow biotechnology. The chapter provides an insight into the various types of bio-active molecules from extremophiles and their wide biotechnological applicability in the medical and pharmaceutical industry.

Modular E-Collar for Animal Telemetry: An Animal-Centered Design Proposal

Animal telemetry is a subject of great potential and scientific interest, but it shows design-dependent problems related to price, flexibility and customization, autonomy, integration of elements, and structural design. The objective of this paper is to provide solutions, from the application of design, to cover the niches that we discovered by reviewing the scientific literature and studying the market. The design process followed to achieve the objective involved a development based on methodologies and basic design approaches focused on the human experience and also that of the animal. We present a modular collar that distributes electronic components in several compartments, connected, and powered by batteries that are wirelessly recharged. Its manufacture is based on 3D printing, something that facilitates immediacy in adaptation and economic affordability. The modularity presented by the proposal allows for adapting the size of the modules to the components they house as well as selecting which specific modules are needed in a project. The homogeneous weight distribution is transferred to the comfort of the animal and allows for a better integration of the elements of the collar. This device substantially improves the current offer of telemetry devices for farming animals, thanks to an animal-centered design process.

STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC ORGANIZATION OF CONCESSIVE RELATIONS IN THE ТATAR LANGUAGE

In modern linguistics there is a growing scientific interest in the semantic analysis of linguistic phenomena. The increased interest is explained by the fact that it is the study of semantic relations between syntactic units that allows us to reveal the communicative essence of the language. In this regard the study of the structural and semantic features of constructions expressing the relations of concession, which are the most complex among other types of conditionality relations, seems relevant and timely. The purpose of this article is to analyze the concessive relations from the formal and substantive side on the material of the Tatar language. The research was carried out using the conceptual apparatus of modern theories of language categories, as well as ideas about the role and functions of concessive relations both in the system organization of language itself and in contextual discourse. The material for the study was drawn from Tatar fiction and colloquial speech. In the course of the work, the method of linguistic description was used as the main research method. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that concessive relations are built on the opposition of two situations, formed on the basis of conditional, causal, and adversarial values.

An Up-to-Date Review of Natural Nanoparticles for Cancer Management

Cancer represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an urgent need to develop more efficient treatment alternatives. In this respect, much attention has been drawn from conventional cancer treatments to more modern approaches, such as the use of nanotechnology. Extensive research has been done for designing innovative nanoparticles able to specifically target tumor cells and ensure the controlled release of anticancer agents. To avoid the potential toxicity of synthetic materials, natural nanoparticles started to attract increasing scientific interest. In this context, this paper aims to review the most important natural nanoparticles used as active ingredients (e.g., polyphenols, polysaccharides, proteins, and sterol-like compounds) or as carriers (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, viral nanoparticles, and exosomes) of various anticancer moieties, focusing on their recent applications in treating diverse malignancies.

JUNIOR STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN SCIENCE COURSES BASED ON HOTS LITERACY PROGRAM: MODELING OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COMPONENTS

This study aims to describe the pattern of relationships between several factors supporting interest (interest) in science subjects. Students get an Exercise Program to improve scientific literacy. This training program aims to improve students' scientific literacy skills. The training program is carried out after the teachers receive the training program. The study of students' interest in science was revealed by conducting a survey related to several factors supporting interest in science. Several factors in the study of supporting scientific interests include the role of teachers, parental support, school roles, peer support, physics, chemistry and biology materials. Research participants were taken using random sampling technique, totaling 39 students. The developed scientific literacy assistance program seeks to improve the quality of learning outcomes. The success of the scientific literacy training program is related to students' scientific interest. The results showed that the multiple linear regression model provides a descriptive numerical description of the empirical relationship between the value of interest in science and its supporting components. Likewise, interest has a role in learning achievement.