EFFECTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC NOISE ON ANTIPREDATOR REACTIONS AND BOLDNESS IN A FRESHWATER FISH

Anthropogenic noise pollution is increasing on a global scale, yet research aimed at understanding the potential impacts of anthropogenic noise is lacking. Detrimental effects of anthropogenic noise on marine species include altering hearing sensitivity, foraging, navigation, communication, boldness, and even risk perception. In freshwater systems, little is known regarding how anthropogenic noise impacts antipredator behaviour and boldness of prey fishes. To investigate such potential impacts, I exposed fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas to a playback of field recorded motorboat noise while exposing them to chemical alarm cue – an indicator of predation risk. I found that the boat noise exposure led to impaired antipredator responses to risk cues. I then examined effects of chronic lab-based noise on boldness in fathead minnows. I exposed minnows to either a familiar airstone noise or a novel filter noise for 8 days and then measured the latency of minnows to emerge from an isolation chamber as a standard measure of boldness. I found that minnows decreased their boldness with exposure to the novel acoustic environment. Surprisingly, I found no evidence for acclimation to the novel noise over the 8-d period. I also found that minnows recovered from the stress of the novel acoustic environment sooner when they were transferred to their familiar noise environment. My data suggest that aquatic species are negatively affected by anthropogenic noise both in their natural habitat and in the laboratory. My data indicate that management plans should consider taking action to mitigate noise pollution

In Vitro Interaction Between Oral Hypoglycemic Drug And Herbal Sex Stimulants: Drug Interactions

Sexual dysfunction is a common, underappreciated complication of diabetes. Male sexual dysfunction among diabetic patients can include disorders of libido, ejaculatory problems, and erectile dysfunction (ED). All three forms of male dysfunction can cause significant bother for diabetic patients and can affect their quality of life. Diabetic patients take oral hypoglycemic drug to control their diabetic as well as take herbal sex stimulants to control to increase the libido. The combined use of herbs and drugs has increased the possibility of herb-drug interactions. The study was undertaken to explore the herb-drug interactions. To investigate the herbdrug interactions an in vitro dissolution study in different simulated pH medium were performed. In this study gliclazide containing tablet of 80mg as oral hypoglycemic drug and different herbal sex stimulants available in local market were used. The release mechanism was explored and explained with zero order, first order and Higuchi equations to identify drug interaction. Higher percentage release of gliclazide was found at simulated phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 compared to gastric medium of pH 1.2 and also in presence of herbal sex stimulants. Increased release pattern of gliclazide by concomitant administration of herbal sex stimulants gives slightly higher absorption, which gives the indication of herb-drug interactions

Eco-friendly self-consolidating concrete production with reinforcing jute fiber.

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has many advantages compared to traditional concrete. However, it often suffers from high brittleness that limits its various applications. Reinforcing the SCC by fiber inclusion can be a fruitful way to enhance its performance. This study aims to investigate how the rheological and mechanical characteristics of SCC are affected by the addition of jute fibers for a specific length of 20 mm at various volumetric fractions of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1%. Slump flow, J-ring flow, V-funnel, L-box, and Sieve stability tests were performed to investigate the rheological properties of jute fiber reinforced self-consolidating concrete (JFRSCC); while, compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength tests were conducted to determine mechanical properties at 7 and 28 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) testing was also used to examine the microstructures of JFR-SCC. These rheological and hardened states were then compared with the control SCC. JFR-SCC performed satisfactorily in terms of flowability, viscosity, and segregation resistance. However, adding more than 0.25% jute fiber in SCC mixes significantly affected the passing ability. The maximum improvements in compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength were 2%, 21%, and 18%, respectively, over the reference mix at 28 days. The jute fibers can fill the microcracks in concrete and prolong the ultimate failure. Hence, SCC with jute fiber can be adopted as an eco-friendly alternative to SCC with artificial fibers

Vague labelling of shark products in Australia’s fish and chip shops undermines consumer choice and sustainability of domestic shark fisheries

Australia has a good reputation for promoting sustainable management of fisheries and protecting endangered and threatened shark species. In Australia, consumers mainly purchase shark products from retail outlets called fish and chip shops. Accurate and precise labelling of shark products is essential to ensure that consumers can make informed choices about the types of shark products they consume. However, little is known about labelling practices in fish and chip shops. We conducted a review of online menus to assess the quality of labelling of shark products in fish and chip shops across Australia. Using a Google search, we identified 1132 fish and chip shops and found that most had online menus (n = 850, 75% of 1132). Over half of the menus included shark products (n = 435, 51% of 850) with another 277 (33% of 850) selling unspecified ‘fish and chips’ products that could include shark and 138 (16% of 850) selling specific ‘scalefish’ products. Of those menus (712 of 850) that either offered shark products or products that could include shark meat, most were labelled using generic terms such as \u27flake\u27 (37%, 261 of 712) or unspecified \u27shark\u27 (9%, 64 of 712) and unspecified ‘fish and chips’ (38%, 275 of 712). Only 16% (111 of 712) of retail outlets provided shark species-specific labels and only 41% of these also provided information about the area of origin, which was typically expressed as either ‘Australian/Local’ or ‘Imported’. We argue that relevant authorities should focus on policies aimed at improving labelling practices, including a requirement for menus to incorporate authentic species name and area of origin information, as this has the potential to enable consumers to purchase products obtained from sustainable shark fishing, and would reward retailers who use informative product labels

GENETSKA STRUKTURA POPULACIJA UGROŽENOG CIPRINIDA Labeo calbasu (HAMILTON, 1822) ISTRAŽENA POMOĆU MIKROSATELITSKIH MARKERA

The population genetic structure of kalibaus Labeo calbasu collected from four wild and a hatchery population was studied using microsatellite DNA marker analysis. Five heterologous microsatellite markers (Lr10, Lr21, Lr24, Lr26 and CcatG1) developed from rohu (Labeo rohita) and catla (Gibelion catla) were analyzed to test the genetic variability of kalibaus stocks. The number of alleles observed in the loci ranged from 2-10. The loci were found to be polymorphic (<P95) in all the populations. The average numbers of possessed alleles were higher by the four wild stocks than the hatchery stock. The average number of allele was the highest in the Jamuna population (5.8) and the least in the Hatchery population (4.8). The observed average heterozygosity (Ho) in the Jamuna population (0.776) was the highest followed by the Halda (0.667), the Haor (0.661) and the Padma (0.642) populations. Except loci Lr10 and Lr24 in the Halda and locus Lr10 in the Padma and Hatchery populations, significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) were detected in all cases. The FST values and the Nm values indicated high level of differentiation and a low level of gene flow between the populations. The largest genetic distance value (D = 0.543) was measured between the Jamuna and the Hatchery populations while the least value (D =0.124) was observed between the Padma and the Halda populations. The estimated genetic population structure and potential applications of microsatellite markers may assist the proper management of kalibaus populations in the wild.Genetska struktura populacija ciprinida Labeo calbasu, prikupljena od četiri divlje i jedne uzgajane populacije, proučavana je koristeći mikrosatelitske markere. Pet heterogenih mikrosatelitskih markera (Lr10, Lr21, Lr24, Lr26 i CcatG1) sastavljenih za indijske ciprinide su proučavani da bi se istražila genetska varijabilnost L. calbasu populacija. Broj uočenih alela u lokusu se kretao od 2 do 10. U proučavanim populacijama lokusi su bili polimorfni (<P95). Prosječan broj alela je bio veći kod divljih nego kod uzgajanih populacija. Prosječan broj alela je bio najveći u Jamuna populaciji (5.8), te najmanji u uzgajanoj populaciji (4.8). Uočena prosječna heterozigotnost (Ho) u Jamuna populaciji (0.776) bila je najveća, slijedile su je populacije Halda (0.667), Haor (0.661) i Padma (0.642). Izuzev lokusa Lr10 i Lr24 u populaciji Halda i lokusa Lr10 u Padma populaciji i uzgajanoj populaciji, zabilježeno je značajno odstupanje od Hardy-Weinbergovog zakona ravnoteže (HWE) u svim slučajevima. Vrijednosti FST i Nm ukazuju na visok stupanj diferencijacije i nizak stupanj protoka gena između populacija. Najveća genetska udaljenost (D = 0.543) je izmjerena između populacije Jamuna i uzgajane populacije, dok je najmanja vrijednost (D = 0.124) uočena između populacija Padma i Halda. Procijenjena genetska struktura populacije i moguća upotreba mikrosatelitskih markera mogu pomoći pri upravljanju populacija L. calbasu u otvorenim vodama

Consumption of shark products: The interface of sustainability, trade (mis)labelling, human health and human rights

Sharks and rays evolved 450 million years ago, during the Late Ordovician Period. However, during the modern Anthropocene, shark populations have declined at considerable rates, and recent global assessments indicate about one in three species is threatened with extinction. A notable reason for this elevated extinction risk is overfishing linked to increased demand for shark fins and other products. Here, we review multiple dimensions of consuming shark products, ranging from stock sustainability, product (mis)labelling and trade, the human health implications of consuming shark products, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and slavery and labour abuses in the fishing industry. We conclude that traceability and increased transparency in seafood supply chains is essential to overcome obstacles to consumption of sustainable, ethical and healthy shark products. We also provide a decision tree outlining steps in consumer choice that would foster such consumption. Our aim is to provide a holistic view on issues concerning the consumption of shark products that will help policymakers, the public, management and law enforcement agencies to advocate for ecologically- and ethically sustainable consumption of shark products and thereby empower the general public to make informed decisions on which shark products they consume

Assessment of toxic effects of the methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. Fruit via biochemical and hematological evaluation in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Citrus macroptera Montr. (C. macroptera) is locally known as Satkara. The fruit of this plant is used as appetite stimulant and in the treatment of fever. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of the fruit extract using some biochemical and hematological parameters in rat model. The effects of methanol extract of Citrus macroptera Montr. fruit administered at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight were investigated on hematological and biochemical parameters in Sprague-Dawley female rats. Moreover, histopathological study was performed to observe the presence of pathological lesions in primary body organs. The extract presented no significant effect on body weight, percent water content, relative organ weight and hematological parameters in rat. Significant decrease from control group was observed in the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein; thus leading to significant decrease of cardiac risk ratio, castelli's risk index-2, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma at all doses. 500 mg/kg dose significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase (P<0.05), 1000 mg/kg dose significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05) and 250 mg/kg dose significantly decreased the level of glycated hemoglobin (P<0.05) from the control group. There were no significant alterations observed with other serum biochemical parameters. Histopathological study confirmed the absence of inflammatory and necrotic features in the primary body organs. Study results indicate that methanolic fruit extract is unlikely to have significant toxicity. Moreover, these findings justified the cardio-protective, moderate hepato-protective and glucose controlling activities of the fruit extract

An in silico approach to develop potential therapies against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

A deadly respiratory disease Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is caused by a perilous virus known as MERS-CoV, which has a severe impact on human health. Currently, there is no approved vaccine, prophylaxis, or antiviral therapeutics for preventing MERS-CoV infection. Due to its inexorable and integral role in the maturation and replication of the MERS-CoV virus, the 3C-like protease is unavoidly a viable therapeutic target. In this study, 2369 phytoconstituents were enlisted from Japanese medicinal plants, and these compounds were screened against 3C-like protease to identify feasible inhibitors. The best three compounds were identified as Kihadanin B, Robustaflavone, and 3-beta-O- (trans-p-Coumaroyl) maslinic acid, with binding energies of −9.8, −9.4, and −9.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The top three potential candidates interacted with several active site residues in the targeted protein, including Cys145, Met168, Glu169, Ala171, and Gln192. The best three compounds were assessed by in silico technique to determine their drug-likeness properties, and they exhibited the least harmful features and the greatest drug-like qualities. Various descriptors, such as solvent-accessible surface area, root-mean-square fluctuation, root-mean-square deviation, hydrogen bond, and radius of gyration, validated the stability and firmness of the protein-ligand complexes throughout the 100ns molecular dynamics simulation. Moreover, the top three compounds exhibited better binding energy along with better stability and firmness than the inhibitor (Nafamostat), which was further confirmed by the binding free energy calculation. Therefore, this computational investigation could aid in the development of efficient therapeutics for life-threatening MERS-CoV infections

Histopathological photomicrographs of control group and 1000 mg/kg dose group of <i>C. macroptera</i> (×100 magnification).

<p>No presence of discernible lesions including inflammation and necrosis were observed. Here, C-K =  Control-Kidney, C-L =  Control-Lung, C-C =  Control-Cecum, C-H =  Control-Heart, C-Li =  Control-Liver, C-Sp =  Control-Spleen, C-St =  Control-Stomach, M-K = 1000 mg/kg dose-Kidney, M-L = 1000 mg/kg dose-Lung, M-C = 1000 mg/kg dose-Cecum, M-H = 1000 mg/kg dose-Heart, M-Li = 1000 mg/kg dose-Liver, M-Sp = 1000 mg/kg dose-Spleen and M-St = 1000 mg/kg dose-Stomach.</p