Jellyfish stings trigger gill disorders and increased mortality in farmed sparus aurata (linnaeus, 1758) in the mediterranean sea

Jellyfish are of particular concern for marine finfish aquaculture. In recent years repeated mass mortality episodes of farmed fish were caused by blooms of gelatinous cnidarian stingers, as a consequence of a wide range of hemolytic, cytotoxic, and neurotoxic properties of associated cnidocytes venoms. The mauve stinger jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca (Scyphozoa) has been identified as direct causative agent for several documented fish mortality events both in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea aquaculture farms. We investigated the effects of P. noctiluca envenomations on the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata by in vivo laboratory assays. Fish were incubated for 8 hours with jellyfish at 3 different densities in 300 l experimental tanks. Gill disorders were assessed by histological analyses and histopathological scoring of samples collected at time intervals from 3 hours to 4 weeks after initial exposure. Fish gills showed different extent and severity of gill lesions according to jellyfish density and incubation time, and long after the removal of jellyfish from tanks. Jellyfish envenomation elicits local and systemic inflammation reactions, histopathology and gill cell toxicity, with severe impacts on fish health. Altogether, these results shows P. noctiluca swarms may represent a high risk for Mediterranean finfish aquaculture farms, generating significant gill damage after only a few hours of contact with farmed S. aurata. Due to the growth of the aquaculture sector and the increased frequency of jellyfish blooms in the coastal waters, negative interactions between stinging jellyfish and farmed fish are likely to increase with the potential for significant economic losses

Electrodeposition of nanocrystalline Ni-Mo alloys from alkaline glycinate solutions

The induced electrodeposition of nanocrystalline Ni-Mo alloys was investigated using two different molar ratios of Ni:Mo in sodium glycinate solution at pH 9.3. The chemical nature of the Ni2+ and MoO4 2- in alkaline glycinate solution was studied using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The composition of the coating layer was determined using EDX. The crystallinity of electrodeposits was examined using XRD, whereas, the morphology and topography were investigated using SEM and AFM, respectively. The corrosion resistance of Ni-Mo alloys compared to pure Ni was studied in 3.5 % NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance techniques. Ni-Mo alloy electrodeposited from the solution containing [MoO4 2-]/[Ni2+] molar ratio of 0.2 show higher corrosion resistance compared to plating solutions of molar ratio 0.1 and pure Ni.NPRP Grant 4-306-2-111 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a Member of The Qatar Foundation).Scopu

Analysis of component-based approaches toward componentized 5G

5G is expected to be modular by design toward autonomic and agile networks. In this regards, the 5G functional architecture is designed as service-based seeking to support the concept of Network Slicing. This leads us to the question: what componentization approach to implement this modular architecture? Is there a componentization approach that is suitable for all the network functions? Which design approach will help to have autonomic and cognitive networks? In this paper we shed the light on the different component-based approaches. In addition, we reviewed the state of the art addressing the applicability of component-based approaches to build autonomic networks. Therefore, we present discussion, comparison and synthesis as input to 5G related activities

Unfolding jellyfish bloom dynamics along the mediterranean basin by transnational citizen science initiatives

Science is addressing global societal challenges, and due to limitations in research financing, scientists are turning to the public at large to jointly tackle specific environmental issues. Citizens are therefore increasingly involved in monitoring programs, appointed as citizen scientists with potential to delivering key data at near to no cost to address environmental challenges, therein fostering scientific knowledge and advising policy- and decision-makers. One of the first and most successful examples of marine citizen science in the Mediterranean is represented by the integrative and collaborative implementation of several jellyfish-spotting campaigns in Italy, Spain, Malta, and Tunisia starting in 2009. Altogether, in terms of time coverage, geographic extent, and number of citizen records, these represent the most effective marine citizen science campaigns thus far implemented in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, we analyzed a collective database merging records over the above four countries, featuring more than 100,000 records containing almost 25,000 observations of jellyfish specimens collected over a period of 3 to 7 years (from 2009 to 2015) by citizen scientists participating in any of the national citizen science programs included in this analysis. Such a wide citizen science exercise demonstrates a valuable and cost-effective tool to understanding ecological drivers of jellyfish proliferation over the Western and Central Mediterranean basins, as well as a powerful contribution to developing tailored adaptation and management strategies; mitigating jellyfish impacts on human activities in coastal zones; and supporting implementation of marine spatial planning, Blue Growth, and conservation strategies

Dokaz i izdvajanje skupine A rotavirusa iz devine teladi u Sudanu.

A total of 332 fecal samples were collected from 245 diarrheic as well as 75 recovered and 12 healthy camel calves in four different areas in Sudan [north (River Nile), east (Gedarif), central to south (Sennar, Blue Nile) and west (Kordofan) States]. Using ELISA, 46 samples (13.9%) were found positive for group A rotavirus. Out of 46 ELISA positive calves, we found 35 diarrheic up to 3 months of age, 7 recovered 4-6 months of age and 4 clinically healthy 8-12 months of age. Using EM, 6 out of 22 ELISA positive samples showed the well defined wheel-like structure characteristic of rotavirus. The results indicate the significant role of rotavirus in the epidemiology of camel calf diarrhea in Sudan. Attempts to isolate the camel group A rotavirus in MA104 cell culture were carried out on 21 ELISA-positive samples with successful isolation of the virus in 18. The isolated viruses were identified by ELISA and EM. Cytopathic effects (CPE) were manifested as rounding, elongation, triangulation, vacuolation and granulation of cells while the cell sheet remains intact. The CPE appeared on days 3-5 on the first to the second passages after treatment of the inocula and the cell culture media with trypsin. To our knowledge this is the first report on the isolation of camel rotavirus in cell culture.Prikupljena su 332 uzorka fecesa od 245 devine teladi s proljevom, 75 teladi oporavljene od proljeva i 12 od zdrave devine teladi sa četiri različita područja u Sudanu: sjevernoga (područje rijeke Nila), istočnoga (područje Gedarif), središnjega i južnoga (područje Sennar, Plavi Nil) te zapadnoga područja (Kordofan). Pretragom imunoenzimnim testom 46 uzoraka (13,9%) bilo je pozitivno za skupinu A rotavirusa. Od tih 46 pozitivnih životinja imunoenzimnim testom, 35 s proljevom bilo je u dobi do tri mjeseca, sedam s preboljelim proljevom bilo je u dobi od četiri do šest mjeseci, a četiri životinje u dobi od osam do 12 mjeseci bile su klinički zdrave. Elektronskom mikroskopijom dokazane su čestice karakteristične za rotavirus u šest od 22 uzorka pozitivna pretragom imunoenzimnim testom. Rezultati ukazuju na znatnu ulogu rotavirusa u epizootiologiji proljeva u devine mladunčadi u Sudanu. Skupina A rotavirusa izdvojena je na MA104 staničnoj kulturi iz 18 od 21 uzorka pozitivnoga pretragom imunoenzimnim testom. Izdvojeni virusi bili su identificirani imunoenzimnim testom i elekronskom mikroskopijom. Citopatski učinak očitovao se zaokruživanjem stanica, njihovim izduživanjem, triangulacijom, vakuolacijom i granulacijom, dok je stanični sloj ostao netaknut. Citopatski učinak javljao se za tri do pet dana u prvoj i drugoj pasaži nakon obradbe inokula i staničnog medija tripsinom. Ovo je prvo izvješće o izdvajanju rotavirusa deva u staničnoj kulturi

Colistin Resistance Genes in Broiler Chickens in Tunisia

Simple Summary The extensive use of colistin in livestock is recognized as the main cause of the emergence of colistin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. This phenomenon represents a public health concern, as colistin is one of the last-resort antibiotics against multidrug-resistant deadly infections in human medicine. In the present survey, DNA extracted from cloacal swabs from 195 broiler chickens in Tunisia was tested by PCR for the ten mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes known so far. Of the 195 animals tested, 81 (41.5%) were mcr-1 positive. These results confirm the urgent nature of antimicrobial resistance in the Tunisian poultry sector and suggest the need for cautious use of colistin in the veterinary field. Colistin is a polymyxin antibiotic that has been used in veterinary medicine for decades, as a treatment for enterobacterial digestive infections as well as a prophylactic treatment and growth promoter in livestock animals, leading to the emergence and spread of colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and to a great public health concern, considering that colistin is one of the last-resort antibiotics against multidrug-resistant deadly infections in clinical practice. Previous studies performed on livestock animals in Tunisia using culture-dependent methods highlighted the presence of colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In the present survey, DNA extracted from cloacal swabs from 195 broiler chickens from six farms in Tunisia was tested via molecular methods for the ten mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes known so far. Of the 195 animals tested, 81 (41.5%) were mcr-1 positive. All the farms tested were positive, with a prevalence ranging from 13% to 93%. These results confirm the spread of colistin resistance in livestock animals in Tunisia and suggest that the investigation of antibiotic resistance genes by culture-independent methods could be a useful means of conducting epidemiological studies on the spread of antimicrobial resistance

Linseed intake associated with mediterranean diet improves hyperglycemia and blood pressure in west algerian patients with metabolic syndrome

Introduction. Linseed grains are vegetable molecules with strong antioxidant effect, whith reduced risk for developing high blood pressure (HBP) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Moreover, by their richness in alpha-linoleic acid, the precursor of Omega-3, linseed grains allow a low level in plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). Objective. To evaluate the effect of daily consumption of linseed grains associated with the Mediterranean diet (MD) on hyperglycemia and hypertension in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Population and Methods. Thirty six patients with MS and 18 witnesses were recruited. Patients followed the MD for 3 months with linseed supplementation. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure and glucose homeostasis were determined before and after 3 months of the study. Results. Patients presented obesity and altered anthropometric profile, hypertension, increased glucose, insulin, HbA1c, insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia, compared to controls. After 3 months follow-up, a reduction in total energy intake, carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates, animal proteins, saturated fatty acids (SFA), polyunsaturated FA, cholesterol, 6/3 ratio and increase in proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates, vegetable proteins, monounsaturated FA (MUFA) 3 fats and fibers, were noted. Moreover, weight loss, improvement of anthropometric parameters, reduction of hypertension, glucose (36%), insulin (22%), HbA1c (32%), increase in HOMA-IR (31%) and insulin were observed, compared to baseline. In parallel, a reduction of TC (28%) and triglycerides (28%) was noted. Conclusion. Linseed grains, in association with MD, induces antihypertensive and hypoglycemic effects in MS patients