Stimulation of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) hemocytes by lipopolysaccharide-like molecules derived from Novacq™

Immune stimulation through feed additives is a promising strategy that can help to combat disease in shrimp farming and reduce the use of antibiotics and other chemotherapeutics. The present study investigated the in vitro immunostimulatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-like molecules isolated from the microbial based feed additive Novacq™ (N-LPS). The presence of LPS-like molecules was confirmed and quantified Novacq™ using a HEK-TLR4 reporter cell line. Primary hemocytes isolated from adult Penaeus monodon were used to measure the immunostimulatory of N-LPS compared with the control group that were treated with E. coli derived LPS (E-LPS). The N-LPS stimulated a rapid and significant induction of the phenoloxidase (PO) response in the hemocytes. The PO response increased with exposure time and LPS concentration and was significantly higher compared with an E. coli LPS (E-LPS) control. In addition, using gene expression data, we quantified the transcriptome response of the hemocytes at 15, 30 and 60 mins post stimulation. Compared with the controls, the N-LPS treated hemocytes had a significant up-regulation of genes involved in the immune system modulation and control at all time-points. Most noteworthy was the significant induction of transcripts that function as serine protease inhibitors (namely SERPINs), that regulate the overexpression of the PO system. Transcription factors from the Notch family which directly regulate the expression of many immune genes were also induced within the hemocytes. Additionally, we also saw a strong up-regulation of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) transcripts, an important neuropeptide involved in immune function. Overall, the transcriptome profile of the hemocytes suggests that the LPS component of Novacq™ is highly immunostimulatory and generates a strong PO response in vitro. The subsequent transcriptional response appears to be directed towards preventing further activation of the PO system most likely in an attempt to limit cytoxicity to the host. Our study highlights the immunostimulatory ability of Novacq™ and provides further evidence of the positive health benefits this microbial based feed additive can have in shrimp.</p

Cryptic diversity in Lithobates warszewitschii (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae)

Lithobateswarszewitschiiis a species of ranid frog distributed from southern Honduras to Panama. This species suffered severe population declines at higher elevations (above 500 m a.s.l.) from the 1980s to early 1990s, but there is more recent evidence of recovery in parts of its range. Here we advocate for the status ofLithobateswarszewitschiias a candidate cryptic species complex based on sequence data from mitochondrial genes CO1 and 16S. Using concatenated phylogenies, nucleotide diversity (K2P-π), net between group mean distance (NBGMD) (πnet) and species delimitation methods, we further elucidate cryptic diversity within this species. All phylogenies display polyphyletic lineages within Costa Rica and Panama. At both loci, observed genetic polymorphism (K2P-π) is also high within and between geographic populations, surpassing proposed species threshold values for amphibians. Additionally, patterns of phylogeographic structure are complicated for this species, and do not appear to be explained by geographic barriers or isolation by distance. These preliminary findings suggestL.warszewitschiiis a wide-ranging species complex. Therefore, we propose further research within its wider range, and recommend integrative taxonomic assessment is merited to assess species status.</jats:p

Safeguarding children in dentistry: 1. Child protection training, experience and practice of dental professionals with an interest in paediatric dentistry

* Few dental professionals with child protection training have experience of making referrals. * There is a wide gap in practice between recognising signs of child abuse and neglect and responding effectively. * This may indicate missed opportunities to save children from continuing abuse. * There is a need for improved child protection information, support and training for dental professionals. Abstract Following several highly publicised inquiries into the deaths of children from abuse and neglect, there has been much recent interest in the role and responsibility of all health professionals to protect children at risk of maltreatment. The findings of a postal questionnaire, sent in March 2005 to 789 dentists and dental care professionals with an interest in paediatric dentistry working in varied settings in the UK, are presented in a two-part report and discussed in the context of current multi-agency good practice in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This first part explores reported child protection training, experience and practice. There was a significant gap between recognising signs of abuse and responding effectively: 67% of respondents had suspected abuse or neglect of a child patient at some time in their career but only 29% had ever made a child protection referral. The dental profession is alerted to the need to ensure necessary appropriate action to safeguard children is always taken when child abuse or neglect are suspected

Mapping participation: a systematic analysis of diverse public participation in the UK energy system

This paper develops a novel approach to mapping diverse forms of participation and public engagement, using the example of the UK energy system. It builds on emerging systemic accounts of participation, which go beyond a focus on individual instances of participation, to gain an understanding of broader patterns and connections. Our approach, which forms part of an emerging family of methods that seek to map across multiple forms of public involvement in issues and systems, draws on systematic review methodology and a relational co-productionist conception of participation. The findings of a systematic mapping of public participation related to the UK energy system 2010–2015 are presented, comprising 258 cases in total. The mapping analysis reveals patterns as to the what (energy objects and issues), how (procedural formats) and who (publics) of energy participation in the UK, which go far beyond the conventionally assumed forms and sites of public participation around energy. Implications for how the dynamics of ‘whole system’ energy participation are represented and the role of approaches to mapping participation in governing energy transitions are considered

Deep-water macroalgae from the Canary Islands: new records and biogeographical relationships

Due to the geographical location and paleobiogeography of the Canary Islands, the seaweed flora contains macroalgae with different distributional patterns. In this contribution, the biogeographical relations of several new records of deep-water macroalgae recently collected around the Canarian archipelago are discussed. These are Bryopsidella neglecta (Berthotd) Rietema,Discosporangium mesarthrocarpum (Meneghini) Hauck, Hincksia onslowensis (Amsler et Kapraun)P.C. Silva, Syringoderma floridana Henry, Peyssonnelia harveyana J. Agardh, Cryptonemia seminervis(C. Agardh) J. Agardh, Botryodadia wynnei Ballantine, Gloiocladia blomquistii (Searles) R. E.Norris, PIahchrysis peltata (W. R. Taylor) P. Huv4 et H. Huv4, Leptofauchea brasiliensis Joly, and Sarcodiotheca divaricata W. R. Taylor. These new records, especially those in the Florideophyceae,support the strong affinity of the Canary Islands seaweed flora with the warm-temperate Mediterranean-Atlantic region. Some species are recorded for the first time from the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean, enhancing the biogeographic relations of the Canarian marine flora with that of the western Atlantic regions

‘Dead people don’t claim’: A psychopolitical autopsy of UK austerity suicides

One of the symptoms of post financial crisis austerity in the UK has been an increase in the numbers of suicides, especially by people who have experienced welfare reform. This article develops and utilises an analytic framework of psychopolitical autopsy to explore media coverage of ‘austerity suicide’ and to take seriously the psychic life of austerity (internalisation, shame, anxiety), embedding it in a context of social dis-ease. Drawing on three distinct yet interrelated areas of literature (the politics of affect and psychosocial dynamics of welfare, post and anti-colonial psychopolitics, and critical suicidology), the article aims to better understand how austerity ‘kills’. Key findings include understanding austerity suicides as embedded within an affective economy of the anxiety caused by punitive welfare retrenchment, the stigmatisation of being a recipient of benefits, and the internalisation of market logic that assigns value through ‘productivity’ and conceptualises welfare entitlement as economic ‘burden’. The significance of this approach lies in its ability to widen analytic framing of suicide from an individual and psychocentric focus, to illuminate culpability of government reforms while still retaining the complexity of suicide, and thus to provide relevant policy insights about welfare reform

Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) Undetected in the Two Orders of Seychelles Amphibians

Reports the first disease screening for chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibians across the Seychelles Archipelag

Trust in Nanotechnology? On Trust as Analytical Tool in Social Research on Emerging Technologies

Trust has become an important aspect of evaluating the relationship between lay public and technology implementation. Experiences have shown that a focus on trust provides a richer understanding of reasons for backlashes of technology in society than a mere focus of public understanding of risks and science communication. Therefore, trust is also widely used as a key concept for understanding and predicting trust or distrust in emerging technologies. But whereas trust broadens the scope for understanding established technologies with well-defined questions and controversies, it easily fails to do so with emerging technologies, where there are no shared questions, a lack of public familiarity with the technology in question, and a restricted understanding amongst social researchers as to where distrust is likely to arise and how and under which form the technology will actually be implemented. Rather contrary, ‘trust’ might sometimes even direct social research into fixed structures that makes it even more difficult for social research to provide socially robust knowledge. This article therefore suggests that if trust is to maintain its important role in evaluating emerging technologies, the approach has to be widened and initially focus not on people’s motivations for trust, but rather the object of trust it self, as to predicting how and where distrust might appear, how the object is established as an object of trust, and how it is established in relation with the public

Is the internet the right medium for a 'don't quit campaign'?

This paper examines the effectiveness of promoting post-16 education and training via Internet. It examines the differences between those who intend to continue the post-16 schooling and those who do not. The implication of the findings challenges the effectiveness of a 'don't quit campaign' which was to offer support and guidance on the choice of post 16 options. This study found that the campaign has done very little for those who decided not to continue post-16 education. Consequently, disadvantaged young people need constant support and resources to eliminate the disparities between different groups

THE GENUS HYPOGLOSSUM KÜTZING (DELESSERIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA) IN THE TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC, INCLUDING H. ANOMALUM SP. NOV. 1

Observations are made on the occurrence and distribution of the red algal genus Hypoglossum KÜtzing (Delesseriaceae, Ceramiales) in the tropical western Atlantic. In addition to the type of the genus, H. hypoglossoides (Stackh.) Coll. & Herv., three other species are reported: H. anomalum sp. nov., H. involvens (Harv.) J. Ag., and H. tenuifolium (Harv.) J. Ag. A key is presented to distinguish these four species. The newly described species, H. anomalum, is like other species in the genus in that its branches arise endogenously from the primary axial row but it is unique in that the branches emerge from the parent blade at some point between the midline and the margin of the blade. The new species is reported from Puerto Rico and Florida.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65648/1/j.1529-8817.1986.tb04162.x.pd