Biobanks, offspring fitness and the influence of developmental plasticity in conservation biology

Mitigation of the widely known threats to the world's biodiversity is difficult, despite the strategies and actions proposed by international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Nevertheless, many scientists devote their time and effort to finding and implementing various solutions to the problem. One potential way forward that is gaining popularity involves the establishment of biobank programs aimed at preserving and storing germplasm from threatened species, and then using it to support the future viability and health of threatened populations. This involves developing and using assisted reproductive technologies to achieve their goals. Despite considerable advances in the effectiveness of reproductive technologies, differences between the reproductive behavior and physiology of widely differing taxonomic groups mean that this approach cannot be applied with equal success to many species. Moreover, evidence that epigenetic influences and developmental plasticity, whereby it is now understood that embryonic development, and subsequent health in later life, can be affected by peri-conceptional environmental conditions, is raising the possibility that cryopreservation methods themselves may have to be reviewed and revised when planning the biobanks. Here, I describe the benefits and problems associated with germplasm biobanking across various species, but also offer some realistic assessments of current progress and applications

Segregated water observed in a putative fish embryo cryopreservative

Development of new cryopreservation strategies has major potential in medicine and agriculture and is critical to the conservation of endangered species that currently cannot be preserved. A critical property of any potential cryopreservative solution is its ability to prevent cell-damaging ice formation during cooling and subsequent heating. This study focuses on the freezing behaviour of promising model cryoprotective solutions. We perform neutron scattering analysis, combined with computer modelling, of the water structure after quench cooling these solutions. It is found that water in this solution forms nano-clusters encapsulated by the surrounding matrix of cryoprotectant solute molecules. We posit that these small volumes inhibit ice formation, because water does not have space for the structural relaxation required to crystallize on the timescale of the cooling process

Information flow between parents and offspring is essential for successful development

Over the last several decades, the sciences of developmental biology and physiology have expanded and intertwined their scope enormously [...

Кіберзлочинність та кібертероризм як загроза інформаційній безпеці: міжнародно-правовий аспект

До проблеми міжнародно-правового упередження кіберзлочинності та кібертероризму як результату негативного впливу інформаційних технологій на суспільство.К проблеме международно-правового предупреждения киберзлочинности и кибертерроризма как результата негативного влияния информационных технологий на общество.As to the problem of international law prevention of cyber crime and cyber terrorism as a result of the negative impact of information technologies on the society

Live microalgae-based diets as enrichment to improve the nutritional profile of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa (Dana, 1849) Nauplii

Most emerging species in marine aquaculture and the aquarium industry have a sensitive and small-mouthed larval stage, and their culture is very challenging due to a lack of appropriate early feeding protocols. The use of copepods has been widely recognized as a good alternative to traditional fish live feeds (rotifers and Artemia spp.), especially for new species targeted for the multibillion-dollar marine aquarium trade. However, most copepod culture trials are focused on biomass production, while their nutritional requirements and enrichment protocols remain scarcely known. The main objective of this study was to determine the dietary contribution of three microalgae-based diets, provided as a mono R (Rhodomonas salina) or binary I–R (Isochrysis galbana + R. salina) and T–R (Tetraselmis suecica + R. salina), on the biochemical composition (proximate and fatty acids (FAs)) and survival of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa (nauplii) versus the conventional rotifer Brachionus plicatilis throughout 96 hr exposure. Both live preys were characterized by the highest protein and total n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FAs (LC-PUFAs) content when fed with the binary diet I–R compared to other treatments, although the nutritional value of A. tonsa nauplii was always much higher compared to B. plicatilis. In general, there was a wide difference in proximate and FAs composition between the two preys, denoting A. tonsa as better live feed in terms of capacity to retain n-3 LC-PUFAs, especially eicosapentanoic acid (20 : 5n-3) and docosahexanoic acid (22 : 6n-3). The present study highlights the nutritional profile of enriched A. tonsa nauplii and contributes to the production of high-quality live feeds, which may be able to reach the nutritional needs of new marine fish species during their larval development, as well as contributing to the improvement of A. tonsa culture

Customer emotions in service failure and recovery encounters

Emotions play a significant role in the workplace, and considerable attention has been given to the study of employee emotions. Customers also play a central function in organizations, but much less is known about customer emotions. This chapter reviews the growing literature on customer emotions in employee–customer interfaces with a focus on service failure and recovery encounters, where emotions are heightened. It highlights emerging themes and key findings, addresses the measurement, modeling, and management of customer emotions, and identifies future research streams. Attention is given to emotional contagion, relationships between affective and cognitive processes, customer anger, customer rage, and individual differences