Frequency of Leading Factors of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children Below Five Years of Age Attending National Institute of Child Health, Karachi

Aim: To determine the frequency of leading factors of severe acute malnutrition in children below five years of age. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient department, National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Karachi from December 7, 2017 to June 9, 2018. Methodology: All children of 6 months to 5 years of age of either gender presented with severe acute malnutrition were included. Information regarding age, gender, weight, height and all leading factors of severe acute malnutrition were noted. Results: Out of total 157 children, pre-maturity was observed in 21 (13.4%) children, low birth weight in 84 (53.5%) children, anemia in 105 (66.9%) children, lack of complete immunization in 81 (51.6%) children, maternal illiteracy 96 (61.1%), paternal illiteracy 31 (19.7%), low income 116 (73.9%), lack of exclusive breastfeeding in 87 (55.4%) children, administration of Pre-lacteals as the first feeding in 54 (34.4%) whereas initiation of complementary feeding after nine months was observed in 48 (30.6%) children. Conclusion: The presence of low income, anemia, maternal illiteracy, lack of exclusive breastfeeding and low birth weight were the leading factors of severe acute malnutrition in children below the age of five years.

Scaphoideus titanus Ball feeding behaviour on three grapevine cultivars with different susceptibilities to Flavescence dorée

Scaphoideus titanus (Ball) is a grapevine-feeder leafhopper, and the most important vector of Flavescence dorée of grapevine (FD), a disease associated with phytoplasmas belonging to ribosomal subgroups 16Sr-V–C and –D. FD is a major constraint to viticulture in several European countries and, so far, its control has relied on roguing of infected plants and insecticide applications against the vector. Detailed knowledge on different levels of the multifaceted phytoplasma-plant-vector relationship is required to envisage and explore more sustainable ways to control the disease spread. In the present work, S. titanus feeding behaviour was described on three grapevine cultivars: Barbera (susceptible to FD), Brachetto, and Moscato (tolerant to FD) using the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) technique. Interestingly, no differences were highlighted in the non-phloem probing phases, thus suggesting that the tested cultivars have no major differences in the biochemical composition or structure of the leaf cuticle, epidermis or mesophyll, that can affect the first feeding phases. On the contrary, the results showed significant differences in leafhopper feeding behaviour in terms of the duration of the phloem feeding phase, longer on Barbera and shorter on Brachetto and Moscato, and of the frequency of interruption-salivation events inside the phloem, higher on Brachetto and Moscato. These findings indicate a preference for the Barbera variety, that appears a more suitable hosts for the leafhopper. Scaphoideus titanus feeding behaviour on Barbera correlates with an enhanced FDp transmission efficiency, thus explaining, at least in part, the higher susceptibility of this variety to FD. The mechanisms for the non-preference for Brachetto and Moscato are discussed, and a possible antixenosis is hypothesized. We propose that breeding for resistance against FD should take into account both plant traits associated with the response to the phytoplasmas and to the vector.

Separate H2 and CO production from CH4-CO2 cycling of Fe-Ni

Fe-Ni materials with varying Ni loading are developed for separate H2 and CO production by CH4-CO2 chemical looping. The product streams are obtained by first feeding CH4, which decomposes to H2 and carbon. The latter acts as reductant for the subsequent CO2 feed, which together with Fe re-oxidation yields CO. After 25 CH4-CO2 cycles, 10Fe5Ni@Zr has a higher H2 space-time-yield than 10Fe0Ni@Zr (〖20mmol∙s〗^(-1)∙kg_(Fe+Ni)^(-1) vs. 〖15mmol∙s〗^(-1)∙kg_(Fe+Ni)^(-1)), a 2.6 times higher CO (〖57mmol∙s〗^(-1)∙kg_(Fe+Ni)^(-1)) and lower deactivation. This improvement has two reasons: (i) CH4 activation over Ni leading to cracking, (ii) product hydrogen causing deeper FeO reduction. Deactivation follows from accumulated carbon, non-reactive for CO2. On Ni and Fe sites, carbon can be removed by lattice oxygen or CO2, yielding more CO compared to the theoretical value for Fe oxidation. However, carbon that migrates away from the metals requires oxygen for removal, which restores the activity of the Ni-containing samples.

Sleeping Site and Tree Selection by Bale Monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) at Kokosa Forest Fragment in Southern Ethiopia

Although selecting advantageous sleeping sites is crucial for nonhuman primates, the extent to which different factors contribute to their selection remains largely unknown for many species. We investigated hypotheses relating to predator avoidance, food access, and thermoregulation to explain the sleeping behavior of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) occupying a degraded fragmented forest, Kokosa, in the southern Ethiopian Highlands. We found that the study group reused 11 out of 20 sleeping sites used during the 42 study days over a 6-month period. Sleeping sites were usually close to the last feeding trees of the day (mean distance =15.2 m) and/or the first feeding trees of the next morning (mean distance = 13.5 m). This may reflect an attempt to maximize feeding efficiency and reduce travel costs. Compared to the mean trees in the study area, sleeping trees were significantly shorter. Bale monkeys selected sleeping places in trees with high foliage density above and below them, lending support to the hypothesis that they select sleeping places that can conceal them from predators and at the same time offer shelter from cold weather. The monkeys also frequently huddled at night. Our results suggest that predator avoidance, access to food resources, and thermoregulation all likely influence the selection of sleeping sites by Bale monkeys.

Evaluation of small non-coding RNAs as a possible epigenetic mechanism mediating the transition from biotrophy to necrotrophy in the life cycle of Phytophthora infestans

Phytophthora infestans, causal agent of late blight disease of potatoes, causes billion-dollar losses worldwide each year. This plant pathogen is a hemibiotroph, first feeding on the host and later killing it. Even though the transcription dynamics of this transition are characterized, the role that small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) might have is still unknown. Furthermore, a bioinformatic pipeline to search and analyze sRNAs in P. infestans, is needed. Using our proposed pipeline, 146 sRNAs were found to be significantly differentially expressed between the evaluated stages of the pathogens life cycle. One hundred of these sRNAs were successfully annotated and classified into nine functional categories. The expression of the genes associated to ten of these sRNAs was validated via qRT-PCR. Among these, the expression levels of genes encoding for effectors were inversely correlated to that of the sRNAs aligning to them, which is expected if sRNAs are indeed regulating their expression. This correlation was not clear for sRNAs in other functional categories and should not be confused with strict causality. This study works as a starting point for considering sRNAs as role players in the transition from biotrophy to necrotrophy in P. infestans when infecting Solanum tuberosum.

Evolution of Thyroid Enhancement of Embryogenesis and Early Survival

Iodine imparts protective antioxidant actions that improve the fitness of invertebrate organisms, and peptides carrying iodine initially appear to have served in a defensive capacity. Tyrosine carries multiple iodines in some echinoderms, and these peptides transferred to progeny serve both protective and signaling purposes. This parental relationship appears to be the most likely evolutionary basis for emergence of the vertebrate thyroid endocrine system, and its critically important development-promoting actions in larval and (later) fetal ontogeny. Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) induce settlement and stimulate transitions to alternative feeding modes in some echinoderms. This transgenerational relationship has been conserved and elaborated in vertebrates, including humans, which share common ancestry with echinoderms. Thyroid insufficiency is damaging or can be lethal to larval fishes; egg yolk that is insufficiently primed with maternal thyroid hormones (TH) results in compromised development and high mortality rates at the time of first-feeding. Maternally-derived TH supplied to offspring supports the onset of independent feeding in fishes (eye, mouth, lateral line, swim bladder and intestinal maturation) and survival by comparable developmental mechanisms in placental mammals. Fishes evolved precise control of TH secretion and peripheral processing; early metamorphic and feeding mode actions were joined by controlled thermogenesis in homeotherms.

Management of the First Feeding of Dorada Brycon sinuensis with Two Species of Cladocerans

The management of the first feeding is a critical stage in the viability of the larvae and fingerling rearing. So far, the first feeding of the bryconids record the best results when fed with forage larvae; thus, the aim was to evaluate two species of cladocerans as live prey in the first feeding of dorada Brycon sinuensis and to evaluate their effects on the control of cannibalism. Larvae (1.2 ± 0.15 mg and 5.9 ± 0.4 mm initial weight and total length) were fed Moina minuta (Mm), Macrothrix elegans (Me) or a mixture (50:50) of cladocerans (Mix) at a rate of 20 prey mL−1, once for 24 h. Another dorada larvae group were fed newly hatched larvae of Piaractus brachypomus (4.5 ± 0.9 mm) as forage larvae (FL) in a ratio of 2:1 (prey:predator). The larvae were stocked to 50 L−1 in aquaria with 5 L of useful volume (12 per treatment). The growth, survival, stress resistance, cannibalism mortality, and the number of prey in the gut contents were analyzed. Dorada larvae fed FL showed higher growth, but those fed Mm showed the highest survival rate (76.1 ± 6.6%) and the lowest cannibalism mortality (16.8 ± 3.7%) (p < 0.05). The use of the cladocerans allowed high survival and stress resistance (95.3 ± 2.4%), and M. minuta proved to be a suitable prey for cannibalism control in the management of the first feeding of dorada larvae.

Investigation of vitamin B12 concentrations and tissue distributions in larval and adult Pacific oysters and related bivalves

itamin B 12 (B 12 ) is an essential micronutrient for all animals, but is not present in plants and is produced de novo only by bacteria or archaea. Accordingly, humans must derive required B 12 from eating animal products or vitamin supplements, as deficiencies can lead to severe health issues including neuropathy. An often overlooked source in the human diet of B 12 is shellfish, in particular bivalves, which have significantly higher levels of B 12 than other animal sources, including all vertebrate meats. Origins and key metabolic processes involving B 12 in bivalves remain largely unknown, despite the exceptionally high levels. In this study, we examined in several Australian bivalve species, hypotheses concerning B 12 utilisation and uptake through diet or microorganism symbiosis. Vitamin B 12 is not distributed evenly across different tissues types of the Pacific oyster, the commercial scallop and Goolwa cockle (pipi), with higher accumulation in the oyster adductor muscle and gill, and mantle and syphons of the Goolwa cockle. Oyster larvae before first feeding already contained high amount of B 12 ; however, a significant decrease in B 12 concentration post metamorphosis indicates a higher utilisation of B 12 during this life event. We demonstrated that microalgal feed can be supplemented with B 12 , resulting in an enriched feed, but this did not result in an increase in larval B 12 concentrations when oyster larvae were fed with this diet relative to controls, thus supporting the theory that a B 12 producing microbiome within bivalves was the potential source of B 12 rather than feed. However, B 12 concentrations in the digestive tract of adult oysters were low compared to other tissue types, which might challenge this theory, at least in adults. Our findings provide insight into B 12 uptake and function in bivalve species, which will aid the promotion of bivalves as suitable B 12 source for humans as well as provide crucial information to the aquaculture industry in relation to optimisation of vitamin supplementation in bivalve hatchery production.