Future scenarios of fish supply and demand for food and nutrition security in Bangladesh: An analysis with the AsiaFish model

Bangladesh has made significant progress in social and economic development in recent years, but micronutrient deficiencies and poor dietary diversity remain a significant challenge. This paper developed eight scenarios to explore fish supply-demand futures in Bangladesh using the AsiaFish model, with special emphasis on the role of fish in micronutrient supply to address the nation’s malnutrition and nutrition security challenges. A business-as-usual (BAU) scenario followed historical trends for exogenous variables used in the model. The seven alternative scenarios explored were: the implications of increase productivity of farmed tilapia, pangasius and rohu carp (AS1); productivity changes in hilsa production (AS2); improvements in the quality of feeds (AS3); reduction in the price of plant-based feeds (AS4); disease outbreak in farmed shrimps and prawns (AS5); and climate change impact (AS6) and stagnant capture fisheries (AS7). The BAU scenario indicates that aquaculture growth will be a prominent contribution to increasing total fish supply and demand and fish exports to 2040. Apart from the scenarios that are favourable to aquaculture sector development, other alternative scenarios highlighted the lower growth rate of capture fisheries and aquaculture compared to BAU, resulting in declining in per capita fish consumption, fish exports and nutrient supply from fish as a consequence. Increased availability of aquaculture fish can slightly compensate for the lower growth of capture fisheries in term of their nutrition quality and dietary diversity, particularly for poor consumers. Policies towards sustaining fisheries and a nutrition-sensitive approach to aquaculture is recommended as both capture fisheries and aquaculture are essential for sustaining healthy and nutritious diets in Bangladesh.

Trypanin Disruption Affects the Motility and Infectivity of the Protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi

The flagellum of Trypanosomatids is an organelle that contributes to multiple functions, including motility, cell division, and host–pathogen interaction. Trypanin was first described in Trypanosoma brucei and is part of the dynein regulatory complex. TbTrypanin knockdown parasites showed motility defects in procyclic forms; however, silencing in bloodstream forms was lethal. Since TbTrypanin mutants show drastic phenotypic changes in mammalian stages, we decided to evaluate if the Trypanosoma cruzi ortholog plays a similar role by using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate null mutants. A ribonucleoprotein complex of SaCas9 and sgRNA plus donor oligonucleotide were used to edit both alleles of TcTrypanin without any selectable marker. TcTrypanin −/− epimastigotes showed a lower growth rate, partially detached flagella, normal numbers of nuclei and kinetoplasts, and motility defects such as reduced displacement and speed and increased tumbling propensity. The epimastigote mutant also showed decreased efficiency of in-vitro metacyclogenesis. Mutant parasites were able to complete the entire life cycle in vitro; however, they showed a reduction in their infection capacity compared with WT and addback cultures. Our data show that T. cruzi life cycle stages have differing sensitivities to TcTrypanin deletion. In conclusion, additional work is needed to dissect the motility components of T. cruzi and to identify essential molecules for mammalian stages.

Tracheid and Pit Dimensions Hardly Vary in the Xylem of Pinus sylvestris Under Contrasting Growing Conditions

Maintaining sufficient water transport via the xylem is crucial for tree survival under variable environmental conditions. Both efficiency and safety of the water transport are based on the anatomical structure of conduits and their connections, the pits. Yet, the plasticity of the xylem anatomy, particularly that of the pit structures, remains unclear. Also, trees adjust conduit dimensions to the water transport distance (i.e., tree size), but knowledge on respective adjustments in pit dimensions is scarce. We compared tracheid traits [mean tracheid diameter d, mean hydraulic diameter dh, cell wall reinforcement (t/b)2], pit dimensions (diameters of pit aperture Da, torus Dt, margo Dm, and pit border Dp), and pit functional properties (margo flexibility F, absolute overlap Oa, torus overlap O, and valve effect Vef) of two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands of similar tree heights but contrasting growth rates. Furthermore, we analyzed the trends of these xylem anatomical parameters across tree rings. Tracheid traits and pit dimensions were similar on both sites, whereas Oa, O, and F were higher at the site with a lower growth rate. On the lower growth rate site, dh and pit dimensions increased across tree rings from pith to bark, and in trees from both sites, dh scaled with pit dimensions. Adjusted pit functional properties indicate slightly higher hydraulic safety in trees with a lower growth rate, although a lack of major differences in measured traits indicated overall low plasticity of the tracheid and pit architecture. Mean hydraulic diameter and pit dimension are well coordinated to increase the hydraulic efficiency toward the outer tree rings and thus with increasing tree height. Our results contribute to a better understanding of tree hydraulics under variable environmental conditions.

Collective Reactions to Epidemic Threat: Attachment and Cultural Orientations Predict Early COVID-19 Infection and Mortality Rates and Trajectories

Hypotheses on culture-level attachment and individualism/collectivism relationships with COVID-19 infection and death rates during a period at the beginning of the epidemic were tested in data from 53 countries and 50 U.S. states. Results from multilevel growth curve analyses showed group-average anxious attachment predicted a lower initial number of cases and deaths cross-culturally and in the United States, while avoidant attachment predicted a higher initial number of COVID-19 infections in the United States and a higher initial number of deaths in both studies. Yet, during this period, culture-level anxious attachment was associated with a higher growth rate of infections and deaths, while a lower growth rate of infections and deaths was observed in countries and U.S. states with higher individualism and avoidance. The research provides new insights into attachment and culture relationships and points to different mechanisms that may explain initial and growth rate trajectories at the beginning of the epidemic.

A Nano-Silver Loaded PVA/Keratin Hydrogel With Strong Mechanical Properties Provides Excellent Antibacterial Effect for Delayed Sternal Closure

Delayed chest closure (DSC) is widely performed during the treatment of congenital heart diseases. However, the high prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing DSC affects prognosis negatively. Herein, we designed a suturable poly (vinyl alcohol)/keratin film loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an alternative material for DSC, which was named PVA/Keratin/AgNPs. The PVA/Keratin/AgNPs films exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical strength after crosslinking by sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP). These films were non-toxic, and cells proliferated with good morphology after 1 week of culture. In addition, PVA/Keratin/AgNPs films provided superior antibacterial ability, as evidenced by the eradication and lower growth rate of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Finally, the PVA/Keratin/AgNPs films were demonstrated to successfully cover the chest cavity temporarily and protect the chest cavity from bacterial infection. These results indicated that the PVA/Keratin/AgNPs films have great prospects to be further exploited for clinical applications in DSC.

Impact of the Duration of Larval Yolk Sac Absorption on the Development of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) Fry

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) larvae that first started active feeding were separated into 3 replicate batches (1A, 1B, 1C) with 100 individuals each, while four days later, the fry that last started active feeding were also distributed in 3 replicate batches (2A, 2B, 2C) with 100 individuals. Four measurements were performed with an interval of four days between the first and second measurements, as well as between the third and fourth measurements, to compare the initial masses of individuals by groups (1ABC and 2ABC) on the same day from the beginning of active feeding. The average initial body weight of the fry per batch in each measurement was generally higher in the first group (1ABC) than in the second group (2ABC). However, when comparing the weight of both groups for the same number of days from the beginning of active feeding, it is noticed that the second group (2ABC) has a higher average individual weight than the first group (1ABC). There was no statistically significant difference (one-way ANOVA, p>0.05) in SGRw between the groups in the first three measurements, while there is a statistically significant difference (one-way ANOVA, p<0.05) in SGRw in the fourth measurement. Group 2ABC has a significantly higher SGRw (5.0064%day−1±0.05394) than group 1ABC (4.7711%day−1±0.01715). This leads to the conclusion that in the second group 2ABC, the backlog of 4 days in mass was compensated. It is also noted that mortality in the first group (1ABC) was only 1%, while in the second group (2ABC) it was 3.7%. Consequently, a higher density of the fry in the first group (1ABC) could have an impact on a lower growth rate.

Features of growth and development of the skeleton in Simmental and crossbred steers during ontogenesis

The results of age-related changes in the morphological composition of carcasses, features of growth and development of the axial and peripheral parts of the skeleton, and their constituent bones, Simmental and crossbred steers have been presented in the paper. The purpose of the research was to study the features of growth and development of the skeleton of Simmental and crossbred steers. The research has been carried out on the basis of the Tula Scientific and Research Institute of Agriculture – a branch of the Federal Research Center “Nemchinovka”. In order to conduct experiments 3 groups of steers have been formed per 15 heads in each with using the method of analogous pairs. Animals of Simmental breed were included in the 1st control group, and in the 2nd and 3rd experimental groups consist of 1/2-blood steers of beef Simmental and Charollais breeds, respectively, obtained from crossbreeding Simmental cows with sires of these beef breeds. The experiment lasted until the 18-month-old of steers. It has been found that the intensity of bone growth in the axial and peripheral parts of the skeleton was due to age-related changes in the absolute and relative bone mass of steers. The intensity of growth of the axial part of the skeleton in the postnatal period increased, and the peripheral decreased. The ribs and spine were characterized by the increased growth rate, while the thoracic and pelvic limbs were characterized by the lower growth rate. The intensity of bone growth in the proximal parts of the limbs exceeded that of the distal parts. Age-related differences in the intensity of growth of the skeletal parts led to changes in the ratio between the linear body size and the features of the steers’ constitution. The value of the long-legness indices in Charolais crossbreds decreased from 65,4 at birth to 53,6 and 46,6 at the age of 6 and 12 months, respectively, while the lengthiness indices on the contrary increased and in these age periods amounted to 93,4, 105,4 and 114,9, respectively.

Widespread variation in heat tolerance and symbiont load are associated with growth tradeoffs in the coral Acropora hyacinthus in Palau

Climate change is dramatically changing ecosystem composition and productivity, leading scientists to consider the best approaches to map natural resistance and foster ecosystem resilience in the face of these changes. Here we present results from a large-scale experimental assessment of coral bleaching resistance, a critical trait for coral population persistence as oceans warm, in 221 colonies of the coral Acropora hyacinthus across 37 reefs in Palau. We find that bleaching resistant individuals inhabit most reefs but are found more often in warmer microhabitats. Our survey also found wide variation in symbiont concentration among colonies, and that colonies with lower symbiont load tended to be more bleaching resistant. By contrast, our data show that low symbiont load comes at the cost of lower growth rate, a tradeoff that may operate widely among corals across environments. Corals with high bleaching resistance have been suggested as a source for habitat restoration or selective breeding in order to increase coral reef resilience to climate change. Our maps show where these resilience corals can be found, but the existence of tradeoffs with heat resistance may suggest caution in unilateral use of this one trait in restoration.

An examination of the effect of autumn closing date on over-winter herbage production and spring yield

Altering autumn management affects the herbage mass available in spring. An experiment was established to determine the effect of five autumn closing dates (CDs) on herbage production, herbage quality, leaf, stem and dead proportions and tiller density over winter. In the study 50% of the herbage available in spring was accounted for by autumn CD. Each 1 d extra a sward was closed from 25 September to 9 December increased herbage mass by 16 kg DM/ha in spring. Swards closed earlier (25 September–26 October) had consistently higher herbage masses in spring (1,301 kg DM/ha) compared to swards closed later (11 November–9 December; 703 kg DM/ha). Later closed swards had greater herbage quality compared to earlier closed swards (organic matter digestibility = 852 and 825 g/kg DM, respectively) due to increased stem and dead material in the grazing horizon of earlier closed swards. There was no effect of autumn CD on sward quality in the subsequent defoliation in spring. However, following the initial spring grazing there was an effect of autumn CD on subsequent grass growth rates; swards closed in October had a lower growth rate (33 kg DM/ha per day) compared to swards closed in November and early December (49 kg DM/ha per day). Results indicate that earlier autumn closing is beneficial to meet high-feed demand in spring but can affect sward quality and growth rates in spring.

Seasonal change in growth rate, carrageenan yield and quality from the red alga (Kappaphycus striatus) cultivated in Cam Ranh bay

The red alga Kappaphycus striatus was cultivated at Camranh Bay, KhanhHoa, Vietnam. For a 30 day cultivation period, the alga showed the higher growth rate (4.1 - 5.8 % day-1) from October 2014 to April 2015 and in September 2015, while the lower growth rate (2.5 - 3.1 % day-1) was found from May to August 2015. The carrageenan quality was done for a 60-day cultivation period, the carrageenan yield and gel strength showed little variation with the higher values (28.1 - 28.7 % and 855 - 935 g cm-2, respectively) obtained from November 2014 to March 2015 and lower ones (25.1 - 26.7 % and 555 - 758 g cm-2, respectively) from April to September 2015. The data on moisture content of alga (33.5 - 36.8 %), clean anhydrous algal/salt ratio (0.92 - 1.07), and carrageenan yield obtained in this study fulfilled those of standards for carrageenophytes. This study shows that the red alga K. striatus can be grown in the tropical waters of the Camranh Bay during the northeast monsoon and a part of the southwest monsoon as a source of materials for carrageenan production.