Identification of the subspecies of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae) using restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA

Restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was used to characterize differentiation among the seven described subspecies of Oreochromis niloticus from East Africa and Egypt. Mitochondrial DNAs of 14 populations were examined with 42 restriction endonucleases. Two subspecies of Oreochromis spilurus were also examined. Approximately 8% of the mitochondrial genome of O. niloticus (17 070 ± 40 base pairs) was assayed; 29 (70%) of the 42 restriction enzymes that were examined displayed restriction phenotypes that varied among the samples analyzed. Several endonucleases produced restriction phenotypes which were diagnostic for the described subspecies of O. niloticus, though a few samples did not agree with the conventional taxonomy of the group. Extensive differentiation of some populations suggests that additional taxonomic recognition is warranted. Because all subspecies of Oreochromis niloticus could be distinguished by their unique restriction enzyme profiles, analysis of mtDNA can be used to identify the origin of cultured stocks. This study provides the first molecular key for the objective identification of this taxon

Phylogenetic Relationships Among Four Western Atlantic Cynoscion Species Based on DNA Sequences From 11 Nuclear Introns, Two Mitochondrial Genes, and Genotypes From 32 Microsatellite Markers

Four species of Cynoscion occur in the waters off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, where they are targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries. Previous studies have not resolved the phylogenetic relationships of the four species, largely due to uncertainty as to whether the spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, or silver seatrout, Cynoscion nothus, is the most divergent member of the North American assemblage. This study used DNA sequences from the nuclear and mitochondrial genes and multilocus genotypes from microsatellite markers to infer relationships among these species. Together, these three techniques strongly suggest that the weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, and the sand seatrout, Cynoscion arenarius, are the most closely related species, and that C. nothus is the most divergent from all the others

Development of microsatellite markers for Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), cross-amplification in Florida Pompano (T. carolinus) and Palometa (T. goodei), and species delineation using microsatellite markers

Three of the 20 species in the genus Trachinotus, in the jack family, Carangidae, are found in Florida waters. These are Florida Pompano (T. carolinus), Permit (T. falcatus), and Palometa (T. goodei). Florida Pompano is a coastal pelagic species found in estuarine and marine waters; it spawns in multiple batches in offshore waters. Permit is the largest and longest lived of the three species and also spawns offshore in multiple batches, near reefs. As adults, Permit can be found nearshore and offshore and are often associated with reefs, but as juveniles they are common estuarine inhabitants. Palometa is a marine species, similar in size to Florida Pompano, and has the widest latitudinal distribution of the three species. Palometa spawn in offshore waters throughout the year with two peaks of activity. All three species support commercial or recreational fisheries on both the Gulf of Mexico coast and Atlantic coast of Florida. Very little has been done to evaluate movement patterns of Trachinotus species. Based on a few tagging studies, it appears that Pompano do not travel far from coastal waters. The only preliminary investigation of genetic stock structure for the Florida Pompano population from Tampa Bay, FL, and Puerto Rico was based on microsatellite markers developed for the Pompano. The report’s key conclusion was that Pompano from Puerto Rico and from Florida belong to two highly distinct genetic stocks. This study was conducted to re-examine, using different microsatellite markers, the genetic status of Pompano stocks in Florida and Puerto Rico. The objectives of this study, therefore, were the following: 1) to develop microsatellite markers for Permit; 2) to cross-amplify the markers in Pompano and Palometa; and 3) to use these markers to confirm the status of Puerto Rico Pompano as a novel genetic stock using the methods of Bayesian population assignment, phylogenetic clustering, and factorial correspondence analysis. ... Three methods were used to investigate the relationship among the taxa using the microsatellite genotype data obtained from the samples. The results from the three analytical methods, based on Bayesian population assignment tests, phylogenetic clustering, and factorial correspondence analysis of genetic relationships among the four Trachinotus samples, showed that Florida and Puerto Rico Pompano samples belong to two highly distinct gene pools. But other multiple molecular tools, particularly nuclear-DNA sequences from many introns, and nonmolecular tools, such as morphological and meristic data, should be used together to determine species-level categorical designation for the Puerto Rico Pompano

Blood and Tissue Enzymatic Activities of GDH and LDH, Index of Glutathione, and Oxidative Stress among Breast Cancer Patients Attending Referral Hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Hospital-Based Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown; it is a multifactorial disease. It is the most diagnosed and the second killer cancer among women. Breast cancer can be originated from tissues of breast or secondary from other organs via metastasis. Generally, cancer cells show aberrant metabolism and oxidative stress when compared to noncancerous tissues of breast cancer patients. The current study aims at evaluating glutamate and glucose metabolism through GDH and LDH enzyme activities, oxidant, and antioxidative status among breast cancer patients attending referral hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Result. Catalytic activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and oxidative stress index were significantly increased in both serum (4.2 mU/ml, 78.6 mU/ml, and 3.3 : 1, resp.) and cancerous tissues (1.4 mU/ml, 111.7 mU/ml, and 2.15 : 1, resp.) of breast cancer patients as compared to those in serum of control group (3.15 mU/ml, 30.4 mU/ml, and 2.05 : 1, resp.) and noncancerous tissues of breast cancer patients (0.92 mU/ml, 70.5 mU/ml, and 1.1 : 1, resp.) (P≤0.05). Correspondingly, ratios of reduced to oxidized glutathione were significantly decreased in both serum (20 : 1) and cancerous tissues (23.5 : 1) of breast cancer patients when compared to those in serum of control group (104.5 : 1) and noncancerous tissues of breast cancer patients (70.9 : 1) (P≤0.05). Conclusion. Catalytic activities of GDH and LDH, ratios of GSH to GSSG, and concentration of TOS among breast cancer patients were significantly higher than were those among control group and noncancerous tissues of breast cancer patients, while TAC of breast cancer patients is significantly lower than that of control group and normal tissues of breast cancer patients

Stock boundaries for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in Florida based on population genetic structure

The Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus (Sciaenidae) is an estuarine fish of economic importance, commercially and recreationally, in Florida. Harvesting of this fish has been steadily decreasing since the 1950s. In the late 1980s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) implemented a major effort to stop the decline in landings and classified the species as restricted, regulating the importation, transportation, and possession of these fish. Over the period 1981-2012, combined recreational and commercial landings of Spotted Seatrout have been flat, primarily because of regulation of the fishery. In the absence of a well-resolved population genetic structure for the Spotted Seatrout, the FWC has relied on coastal watershed features and reproductive differences among estuaries to demarcate regions for management purposes. ... In the present study we identify three genetic stocks of Spotted Seatrout in Florida waters, each with a unique range: 1) from the western border of Florida to Apalachicola Bay, 2) east of Apalachicola Bay through Biscayne Bay, and 3) from Sebastian Inlet to the northeast border of the state. The genetic patterns observed indicate that little if any contemporaneous reproductive exchange takes place between these stocks and that recruitment usually occurs in the natal estuary. The geographic boundaries that frame the FWC’s periodic stock assessments and other demographic evaluations of Spotted Seatrout are not a perfect match with those of the genetically identified stocks. We recommend that, in its assessments of Florida stock of the Spotted Seatrout, the FWC use the genetic stock boundaries that we describe here

Anthropometric Data Analysis

THE WHO ANTHRO DATA ANALYSER The Anthro Data Analyzer is an online tool developed by the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development of the World Health Organization (WHO), which allows users to perform comprehensive analysis of anthropometric Data for children under five years of age based on weight and height. The analyses are based on the WHO Child Growth Standards. This online tool is designed to build country capacity on data analysis and reporting on child malnutrition outcomes. It aims to enhance good practice in Data collection, Data analysis, and reporting results. Data quality assessment report template with results from WHO Anthro Survey Analyser Analysis date: 2022-08-20 17:59:56 Link:https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/anthro/ This report is a template that includes key data quality checks that can help to identify issues with the data and considerations when interpreting results. Other outputs that can be relevant to your analyses can be saved directly from the tool interactive dashboards and added to the report. For guidance on how to interpret the results, user should refer to the document “Recommendations for improving the quality of anthropometric data and its analysis and reporting” by the Working Group on Anthropometric Data Quality, for the WHO-UNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring (TEAM). The document is available at www.who.int/nutrition/team, under “Technical reports and papers”. Recommended citation: Report template with results from WHO Anthro Survey Analyser Analysis date: 2022-08-20 18:00:40 Link:https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/anthro

Molecular Detection of a Non-Native Hybrid Eelgrass, \u3ci\u3eVallisneria spiralis\u3c/i\u3e Linnaeus (1753) × \u3ci\u3eV. denseserrulata\u3c/i\u3e Makino (1921), In the Southeastern United States

During a genetic survey of Vallisneria americana in the southeastern United States, a non-native hybrid between V. spiralis Linnaeus and V. denseserrulata Makino was detected in eight locations across Florida and Alabama. Although previously reported in Japan, Hungary, and Australia, this is the first documented occurrence of the hybrid in North America. Because natural ranges of both parent species are not sympatric in the wild, it is thought that the hybridization event occurred in aquaria. The presence of both species in the aquarium pet trade also makes the industry a potential source of the introduction in the United States. More extensive sampling will be necessary to determine the full distribution of the hybrid, as well as to evaluate its potential impact on native Vallisneria populations and the aquatic ecosystems they support

Fifty-nine microsatellite markers for hybrid classification studies involving endemic Florida Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) and invasive Mallards (A. platyrhynchos)

Endemic Florida Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula) appear to be hybridizing introgressively with domesticated Mallards (A. platyrhynchos), which are frequently released or escape captivity and have established feral populations throughout Florida. To investigate this possible conservation threat, we isolated and characterized 59 polymorphic loci from an enriched Florida Mottled Duck microsatellite library and performed cross-amplification assays with Mallard specimens. Average numbers of alleles per locus were 6.0 (ranging 2-23) and 5.6 (ranging 2-15) for A. fulvigula and A. platyrhynchos, respectively; estimates of observed/expected heterozygosity were 0.54/0.63 and 0.52/0.64. Markers developed in this study will be used in conjunction with existing markers to robustly classify hybrids and to assess and monitor the genetic dynamics of introgression between these waterfowl species

Florida Gulf Bay Scallop (Argopecten Irradians Concentricus) Population Genetic Structure: Form, Variation, and Influential Factors

Knowledge of changes in the interdependence of a species\u27 populations for continued existence (connectivity) and of the forces driving connectivity patterns is critical for management and conservation of the species. Population genetics can be used to investigate population connectivity. Combining population genetics with climatic, environmental, and biological (external) factors that can influence population structure and connectivity can lead to a greater understanding of the forces influencing population dynamics. We deciphered the population genetic structure and connectivity patterns of bay scallops (Argopecten irradians concentricus Lamarck) from Florida Gulf of Mexico waters using allozyme-locus and mitochondrial DNA population genetics data from samples representing four consecutive generations. We evaluated bay scallop population genetic relationships within the context of habitat, hydrodynamic, and environmental variation, and concomitant spatial patterns in the abundance of adult and recently recruited scallops to infer the influence of these factors on bay scallop population structure. Florida Gulf bay scallops form a hierarchical, mixed-model, source-sink metapopulation with intergenerational variation in connectivity that seems to be influenced by the factors we considered. An El Niño event that occurred during 1 y caused climatic and environmental change that greatly reduced subpopulation connectivity, allowing us to understand more completely the potential relative importance of the other external factors on change in metapopulation connectivity over time. Our study illustrates the value of using multiple genetic markers, sampling for multiple years, and integrating data from multiple external factors for understanding the population genetic structure of species for adaptive management