Spatio-Temporal Variation in Length-Weight Relationships and Condition of the Ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus (Linnaeus, 1758): Implications for Fisheries Management

Knowledge of length-weight relationships for commercially exploited fish is an important tool for assessing and managing of fish stocks. However, analyses of length-weight relationship fisheries data typically do not consider the inherent differences in length-weight relationships for fish caught from different habitats, seasons, or years, and this can affect the utility of these data for developing condition indices or calculating fisheries biomass. Here, we investigated length-weight relationships for ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus in the waters of the Arabian Sea off Oman collected during three periods (2001-02, 2007-08, and 2014-15) and showed that a multivariate modelling approach that considers the areas and seasons in which ribbonfish were caught improved estimation of length-weight relationships. We used the outputs of these models to explore spatio-temporal variations in condition indices and relative weights among ribbonfish, revealing fish of 85-125 cm were in the best overall condition. We also found that condition differed according to where and when fish were caught, with condition lowest during spring and pre-south-west monsoon periods and highest during and after the south-west monsoons. We interpret these differences to be a consequence of variability in temperature and food availability. Based on our findings, we suggest fishing during seasons that have the lowest impact on fish condition and which are commercially most viable; such fishery management would enhance fisheries conservation and economic revenue in the region

Systems genetics identifies miRNA-mediated regulation of host response in COVID-19.

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND: Individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 vary greatly in their disease severity, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe disease. The regulation of gene expression is an important mechanism in the host immune response and can modulate the outcome of the disease. miRNAs play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation with consequences on downstream molecular and cellular host immune response processes. The nature and magnitude of miRNA perturbations associated with blood phenotypes and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in COVID-19 are poorly understood. RESULTS: We combined multi-omics profiling-genotyping, miRNA and RNA expression, measured at the time of hospital admission soon after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms-with phenotypes from electronic health records to understand how miRNA expression contributes to variation in disease severity in a diverse cohort of 259 unvaccinated patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We analyzed 62 clinical variables and expression levels of 632 miRNAs measured at admission and identified 97 miRNAs associated with 8 blood phenotypes significantly associated with later ICU admission. Integrative miRNA-mRNA cross-correlation analysis identified multiple miRNA-mRNA-blood endophenotype associations and revealed the effect of miR-143-3p on neutrophil count mediated by the expression of its target gene BCL2. We report 168 significant cis-miRNA expression quantitative trait loci, 57 of which implicate miRNAs associated with either ICU admission or a blood endophenotype. CONCLUSIONS: This systems genetics study has given rise to a genomic picture of the architecture of whole blood miRNAs in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients and pinpoints post-transcriptional regulation as a potential mechanism that impacts blood traits underlying COVID-19 severity. The results also highlight the impact of host genetic regulatory control of miRNA expression in early stages of COVID-19 disease

Toxic Emissions from Processed Wood in Cone Calorimeter Tests

Despite the large number of deaths in fires due to exposure to toxic gases generated in the fire, there are no toxic gas requirements to be met for fires in any materials used in buildings. Only visibility obscuration by smoke in standard fire tests is required to be measured for building materials. This work investigated the toxic gas emissions from 3 different types of processed wood; Oriented Strand Board (OSB), Medium density fiberboard (MDF) and Chipboard faced with white melamine (CFM). The standard cone calorimeter was used for these tests with “raw” (predilution) gas sampling, using an 80mm diameter chimney mounted on top of the cone heater exit. Heated gas sampling and heated Gasmet FTIR toxic gas analysis was used with a 20- hole mean gas sample probe at the conical heater outlet plane. Each wood sample was exposed to the conical heater of the cone calorimeter radiating at 35kw/m 2 and the ignition delay for the 3 samples was 69 s (OSB), 142 s (CFM) and 54 s (MDF). Carbon balance equivalence ratios showed that rich mixtures occurred in some of the tests, indicating that some features of confinement were found in the raw gas analysis. These rich mixtures produced high concentrations of toxic gases. The 3 samples had similar peak HRR, but the time variation of HRR was different with the CFM having a slower growth of the fire to peak HRR. The glued surface and the manufacturing process introduced about 5% of organic nitrogen compounds into MDF and CFM and this produced very high levels of HCN immediately after the fire started. OSB had 1/10 the level of organic nitrogen than CFM or MDF and the HCN levels were much lower. For OSB formaldehyde and acrolein and were four times higher than for CFM and MDF and dominated the toxicity immediately after the fire started. The most important toxic species for all three processed woods were CO, acrolein, formaldehyde and benzene on both an LC50 and COSHH15min basis, which is used as an indicator of impairment of escape

Drug shortages in Najran region, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey

Problem: Drug shortage raise the possibility of medication errors and undesirable side effects as the total supply of all medications is inadequate to meet the current or projected demand. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of drug shortages in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the characteristics of drug shortages in the southern region of Saudi Arabia for the duration between March and June 2022. Healthcare professionals who work at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in this study. Results: This study involved 705 participants. Pharmacists made up around half of them (46.2%). Around 76.3% of them were aware that there were drug shortages. More than half of them (61.4%) acknowledged that there is a drug shortage at their hospital on a daily to monthly basis. The majority of them (71.6%) stated that generic drug shortages are a typical occurrence. Tablets and capsules are the most frequent dosage forms that face shortages, according to about 40% of participants. Vitamins and supplements and antimicrobial agents (antibiotics-antivirals-antifungals) were the most often reported therapeutic areas that frequently encounter drug shortages, with 58.9% and 45.5%, respectively. Conclusion: A common issue in Saudi Arabia's southern region is a shortage of drugs. The implementation of numerous preventive strategies is necessary to avoid drug shortages. To address any unanticipated drug shortage issues, healthcare professionals should receive more training on the usage of alternative drugs

Systems genetics identifies miRNA-mediated regulation of host response in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 vary greatly in their disease severity, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe disease. The regulation of gene expression is an important mechanism in the host immune response and can modulate the outcome of the disease. miRNAs play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation with consequences on downstream molecular and cellular host immune response processes. The nature and magnitude of miRNA perturbations associated with blood phenotypes and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in COVID-19 are poorly understood. RESULTS: We combined multi-omics profiling-genotyping, miRNA and RNA expression, measured at the time of hospital admission soon after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms-with phenotypes from electronic health records to understand how miRNA expression contributes to variation in disease severity in a diverse cohort of 259 unvaccinated patients in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We analyzed 62 clinical variables and expression levels of 632 miRNAs measured at admission and identified 97 miRNAs associated with 8 blood phenotypes significantly associated with later ICU admission. Integrative miRNA-mRNA cross-correlation analysis identified multiple miRNA-mRNA-blood endophenotype associations and revealed the effect of miR-143-3p on neutrophil count mediated by the expression of its target gene BCL2. We report 168 significant cis-miRNA expression quantitative trait loci, 57 of which implicate miRNAs associated with either ICU admission or a blood endophenotype. CONCLUSIONS: This systems genetics study has given rise to a genomic picture of the architecture of whole blood miRNAs in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients and pinpoints post-transcriptional regulation as a potential mechanism that impacts blood traits underlying COVID-19 severity. The results also highlight the impact of host genetic regulatory control of miRNA expression in early stages of COVID-19 disease