Bringing Southern Bluefin Tuna Back from the Brink: Enhancing Understanding of the Scientific Process in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

The Commission of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western Pacific Ocean, or the WCPFC, manages fish stocks of significant financial and ecological value across a vast area of the Pacific Ocean. WCPFC members, however, have disagreed sharply over management measures for tuna, sharks, and other species. These disagreements have arisen due to ambiguous text in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western Pacific Ocean regarding the roles of the Convention’s subsidiary bodies and providers of scientific advice. Some members argue that only the International Scientific Committee for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific Ocean, or the ISC, and the Northern Committee may provide scientific and management advice for those fish stocks occurring north of twenty degrees north latitude. Other members, however, believe that the Convention’s Scientific Committee has the ultimate responsibility to provide advice to the WCPFC for all stocks. These institutional disagreements are having profound, adverse impacts on species. This Article concludes that the Convention grants the Scientific Committee the authority to review the assessments and other work of the providers of scientific information and make recommendations to the Commission concerning conservation and management of all stocks in the Convention Area. This gives the Scientific Committee the authority and the duty to review the ISC’s scientific advice and recommendations deriving from it. To clarify any ambiguity, this Article recommends that the WCPFC revise the rules of procedure of the Northern Committee, the memorandum of understanding between the WCPFC and the ISC, and the WCPFC’s resolution on best available science

A Microfluidic Platform for Precision Small-volume Sample Processing and Its Use to Size Separate Biological Particles with an Acoustic Microdevice.

A major advantage of microfluidic devices is the ability to manipulate small sample volumes, thus reducing reagent waste and preserving precious sample. However, to achieve robust sample manipulation it is necessary to address device integration with the macroscale environment. To realize repeatable, sensitive particle separation with microfluidic devices, this protocol presents a complete automated and integrated microfluidic platform that enables precise processing of 0.15-1.5 ml samples using microfluidic devices. Important aspects of this system include modular device layout and robust fixtures resulting in reliable and flexible world to chip connections, and fully-automated fluid handling which accomplishes closed-loop sample collection, system cleaning and priming steps to ensure repeatable operation. Different microfluidic devices can be used interchangeably with this architecture. Here we incorporate an acoustofluidic device, detail its characterization, performance optimization, and demonstrate its use for size-separation of biological samples. By using real-time feedback during separation experiments, sample collection is optimized to conserve and concentrate sample. Although requiring the integration of multiple pieces of equipment, advantages of this architecture include the ability to process unknown samples with no additional system optimization, ease of device replacement, and precise, robust sample processing

Control interno en el área de inventario y su impacto en la rentabilidad de la empresa “El Hermano Sandro” Cantón Quevedo Provincia De Los Ríos, año 2022.

The elaboration of the current investigation aims to develop an Internal Control Model in the inventory area to establish its impact in the company “El Hermano Sandro” in Quevedo canton, period 2022. The authors used inductive, deductive, and analytical methods. The types of research were: applied, field, and qualitative research. To diagnose the current situation in the company's inventory area, the internal control questionnaire COSO I was applied, based on the components of Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Information and Communication, and Supervision. The application of the COSO I questionnaire reflects that the level of confidence calculated in a consolidated manner corresponds to all the components of the internal control questionnaire COSO I, evidencing 90%, and placing it in a HIGH range, while the level of the calculated risk was 10%, situating it in a LOW range. Finally, the researchers designed an internal control model as their proposal for the inventory area of the company “El Hermano Sandro”. To conclude, the company does not have internal control procedures in the inventory area, for this reason the proposal highly recommended.La elaboración de la presente investigación tiene como objetivo elaborar un modelo de Control Interno en el área de inventario para poder establecer su impacto en la empresa “El Hermano Sandro” del cantón Quevedo, periodo 2022. Como parte de la metodología empleada se utilizó el método inductivo, deductivo y analítico. Entre los tipos de investigación empleados, se utilizó la investigación aplicada, de campo y cualitativa. Para diagnosticar la situación actual en el área de inventarios de la empresa, se utilizó se aplicó el cuestionario de control interno COSO I, en base a los componentes Ambiente de Control, Evaluación de Riesgos, Actividades de Control, Información y Comunicación y Supervisión. La aplicación del cuestionario COSO I refleja que el nivel de confianza calculado de manera consolidada, correspondiente a todos los componentes del cuestionario de control interno COSO I, fue de 89% el mismo que se ubica en el rango de ALTO, mientras que el nivel de riesgo calculado fue de 11% el mismo que se ubica en el rango de BAJO. Finalmente, como propuesta se procedió al diseño de un modelo de control interno para el área de inventarios de la empresa “El Hermano Sandro”. Se concluye que la empresa no tiene definidos de manera formal, procedimientos de control interno en el área de inventarios. Se recomienda la propuesta de un modelo de control interno para el área de inventarios

Creencias asociadas a la hiperplasia prostática benigna

The purpose of the research is to conduct a review on the rol of the beliefs associated to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cognitive, behavioral and attitudinal aspects are evaluated related to irrational beliefs with relation to this illness whose prevalence is in the rise in male colombian population.El objeto de la siguiente investigaciÛn fue desarrollar una revisiÛn sobre el papel de las creencias asociadas a la hiperplasia prost·tica benigna. Se eval ̇an aspectos cognitivos comportamentales actitudinales que se relacionan con creencias irracionales con respecto a esta enfermedad, cuya prevalencia epidemiolÛgica es cada vez m·s fuerte en la poblaciÛn masculina colombiana

Clinical and Molecular Characteristics of Post-Colonoscopy Colorectal Cancer: A Population-based Study

Colonoscopy provides incomplete protection from colorectal cancer (CRC), but determinants of post-colonoscopy CRC are not well understood. We compared clinical features and molecular characteristics of CRCs diagnosed at different time intervals after a previous colonoscopy

Repeated ethanol exposure increases anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish during withdrawal

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are quickly becoming an important model organism in behavioural neuroscience and drug addiction research. Conditioned place preference studies show that drugs of abuse produce responses in zebrafish that are similar to mammalian animal models. Repeated administration of ethanol in zebrafish results in withdrawal-induced behavioural responses that vary with dose and exposure duration, requiring additional investigation. Here, we examine the effects of ethanol withdrawal on anxiety-like behaviours in adult zebrafish after a 21-day ethanol dosing schedule at either 0.4% or 0.8%. Anxiety-like behaviour was measured with the novel object approach test; this test involves placing a fish in a circular arena with a novel object in the centre and observing the amount of exploration of the object. We found increased anxiety-like behaviour during ethanol withdrawal. This study adds to the growing body of literature that validates the zebrafish as a model organism in the field of behavioural neuroscience and addiction

Enrichment of the exocytosis protein STX4 in skeletal muscle remediates peripheral insulin resistance and alters mitochondrial dynamics via Drp1

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Syntaxin 4 (STX4) levels are reduced in human diabetic skeletal muscle, and global transgenic enrichment of STX4 expression improves insulin sensitivity in mice. Here, we show that transgenic skeletal muscle-specific STX4 enrichment (skmSTX4tg) in mice reverses established insulin resistance and improves mitochondrial function in the context of diabetogenic stress. Specifically, skmSTX4tg reversed insulin resistance caused by high-fat diet (HFD) without altering body weight or food consumption. Electron microscopy of wild-type mouse muscle revealed STX4 localisation at or proximal to the mitochondrial membrane. STX4 enrichment prevented HFD-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction through a mechanism involving STX4-Drp1 interaction and elevated AMPK-mediated phosphorylation at Drp1 S637, which favors fusion. Our findings challenge the dogma that STX4 acts solely at the plasma membrane, revealing that STX4 localises at/proximal to and regulates the function of mitochondria in muscle. These results establish skeletal muscle STX4 enrichment as a candidate therapeutic strategy to reverse peripheral insulin resistance

Phase I clinical trial of HER2-specific immunotherapy with concomitant HER2 kinase inhibtion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, despite initially benefiting from the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and the EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib, will eventually have progressive disease. HER2-based vaccines induce polyclonal antibody responses against HER2 that demonstrate enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with lapatinib in murine models. We wished to test the clinical safety, immunogenicity, and activity of a HER2-based cancer vaccine, when combined with lapatinib.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We immunized women (n = 12) with metastatic, trastuzumab-refractory, HER2-overexpressing breast cancer with dHER2, a recombinant protein consisting of extracellular domain (ECD) and a portion of the intracellular domain (ICD) of HER2 combined with the adjuvant AS15, containing MPL, QS21, CpG and liposome. Lapatinib (1250 mg/day) was administered concurrently. Peripheral blood antibody and T cell responses were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This regimen was well tolerated, with no cardiotoxicity. Anti-HER2-specific antibody was induced in all patients whereas HER2-specific T cells were detected in one patient. Preliminary analyses of patient serum demonstrated downstream signaling inhibition in HER2 expressing tumor cells. The median time to progression was 55 days, with the majority of patients progressing prior to induction of peak anti-HER2 immune responses; however, 300-day overall survival was 92% (95% CI: 77-100%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>dHER2 combined with lapatinib was safe and immunogenic with promising long term survival in those with HER2-overexpressing breast cancers refractory to trastuzumab. Further studies to define the anticancer activity of the antibodies induced by HER2 vaccines along with lapatinib are underway.</p> <p>Trial registry</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00952692">NCT00952692</a></p

Dispelling the myth that habitual caffeine consumption influences the performance response to acute caffeine supplementation

Objective: To investigate the influence of habitual caffeine intake on aerobic exercise performance responses to acute caffeine supplementation. Methods: A double-blind, crossover, counterbalanced study was performed. Forty male endurance-trained cyclists were allocated into tertiles according to their daily caffeine intake: low (58 ± 29 mg.d-1), moderate (143 ± 25 mg.d-1), and high consumers (351 ± 139 mg.d-1). Participants completed three trials in which they performed simulated cycling time-trials in the fastest time possible following ingestion of: caffeine (CAF: 6 mg.kg-1 BM), placebo (PLA), and no supplement (CON). Results: Mixed-model analysis revealed time-trial performance was significantly improved in CAF compared to PLA and CON (29.92±2.18 min vs 30.81±2.67 and 31.14±2.71 min; P = 0.05). Blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion were not different between trials and tertiles (P>0.05). Conclusion: Performance effects of acute caffeine supplementation during a ~30 min cycling TT performance were not influenced by the level of habitual caffeine consumption