The small-scale fisheries of Timor-Leste and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) of developing countries are an important yet neglected part of the world’s capture fisheries. The general lack of fisheries dependent and independent data makes it difficult to predict the impact of future crises on SSFs, and thus to prepare for them. This research focusses on the SSF of the small island developing state Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste is a newly independent country, with a still underdeveloped fishery. WorldFish, a non-profit research organisation based in Penang, carries out projects that focus on promoting the fish production of the country to combat malnourishment. One of the ongoing projects is a new catch and effort monitoring program that has been active since 2016. This thesis will be the first to explore and analyse this dataset to give a descriptive analysis of the SSF of Timor-Leste. Simultaneously, the data is used to examine the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to give insight on how the fisheries cope under the pressure of such a health emergency. The SSF of Timor-Leste has the characteristics of a typical small-scale fishery, having small inshore boats and crews and catching multiple species. The climate and other occupations such as agriculture determine the seasonality pattern of the fisheries. The catch is sold locally and what cannot be traded is kept for own consumption. The results suggest that the SSF of Timor-Leste is quite resilient against the COVID-19 crisis. While experiencing a decline in the market value of the catch, it does not appear to have been as impactful as in other SSFs, where a decrease in fishing effort has been measured as well. It is possible that the limited export and modest tourism sector of Timor-Leste have sheltered the fisheries from enduring the same shock that other SSFs have. It will thus be important to put a significant amount of effort into preserving the resilience of the fisheries when promoting and developing the sector. This thesis contributes to filling the data gap present of small-scale fisheries, and hopefully incites an increase of descriptive analyses of SSFs.Masteroppgave i biologiBIO399MAMN-BIOMAMN-HAVS

The fisheries of Timor-Leste: A 4-year time series analysis covering the COVID-19 pandemic

The time series of data used encompasses the COVID-19 pandemic, and our findings suggest that SSF in Timor-Leste were fairly resilient to the impact. Although they experienced a decline in the market value of the catch, it does not appear to have been as influential as in other countries, where decreases in fishing effort were seen. It is possible that the limited export of aquatic foods from Timor-Leste, and its modest tourism sector, sheltered the fisheries from shocks seen in the fishing sector of other nations. This reflects the persistence of SSF to generate food and income where formal markets and global supply chains are extremely limited. With increasing attention and investment in the country’s fisheries sector to achieve national development goals, it will be critical to consider if modernization and a focus on increasing production will benefit those with the most pressing food and nutritional needs, as well as environmental sustainability. This report provides a benchmark against which to track the progress and development of the fisheries sector in Timor-Leste, and serves as a case study for low-cost digital monitoring of fisheries in data-deficient scenarios

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Antagonist Blocks the Development of Endometriosis In Vivo

Endometriosis, a disease of reproductive age women, is a major cause of infertility, menstrual disorders and pelvic pain. Little is known about its etiopathology, but chronic pelvic inflammation is a common feature in affected women. Beside symptomatic treatment of endometriosis-associated pain, only two main suboptimal therapeutic approaches (hormonal and invasive surgery) are generally recommended to patients and no specific targeted treatment is available. Our studies led to the detection of a marked increase in the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the eutopic endometrium, the peripheral blood and the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, and in early, vascularized and active endometriotic lesions. Herein, we developed a treatment model of endometriosis, where human endometrial tissue was first allowed to implant into the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, to assess in vivo the effect of a specific antagonist of MIF (ISO-1) on the progression of endometriosis and evaluate its efficacy as a potential therapeutic tool. Administration of ISO-1 led to a significant decline of the number, size and in situ dissemination of endometriotic lesions. We further showed that ISO-1 may act by significantly inhibiting cell adhesion, tissue remodeling, angiogenesis and inflammation as well as by altering the balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors. Actually, mice treatment with ISO-1 significantly reduced the expression of cell adhesion receptors αv and ß3 integrins (P<0.05), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 (P<0.05), vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) (P<0.01), interleukin 8 (IL8) (P<0.05), cyclooxygenease (COX)2 (P<0.001) and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 (P<0.01), but significantly induced the expression of Bax (P<0.05), a potent pro-apoptotic protein. These data provide evidence that specific inhibition of MIF alters endometriotic tissue growth and progression in vivo and may represent a promising potential therapeutic avenue

Régulation et mécanismes d'action du facteur inhibiteur de la migration des macrophages (MIF) dans l'endométriose

L'endométriose est une maladie gynécologique dépendante des oestrogènes touchant environ 10% des femmes en âge de procréer. Elle se caractérise par la présence de tissu en dehors de la cavité utérine histologiquement similaire à l'endomètre. Les femmes atteintes d'endométriose souffrent de fortes douleurs pelviennes ainsi que d'infertilité. L'étiologie de cette pathologie reste encore aujourd'hui obscure. Des altérations du système immuno-inflammatoire sont de plus en plus mises en cause dans la pathogenèse de cette maladie. L'objectif général de ce projet est d'étudier l'implication dans la pathophysiologie de l'endométriose du déséquilibre du facteur MIF, aux propriétés pro-inflammatoires et angiogéniques, retrouvé anormalement élevé chez les patientes. Nos résultats révèlent l'existence d'une boucle de rétroaction positive entre MIF et les oestrogènes dans les cellules endometrials stromales ectopiques où E2 augmenterait directement l'expression de MIF, qui, à son tour, serait capable d'induire l'expression de l'aromatase, enzyme clé de la biosynthèse des oestrogènes. Cette interaction immuno-endocrinienne pourrait jouer un rôle très important dans le développement de l'endométriose. Au niveau des lésions ectopiques, MIF serait également capable d'avoir des effets angiogéniques en induisant la production des facteurs angiogéniques majeurs VEGF, IL-8 et MCP-1 à travers l'activation des voies de signalisation ERK et p38 MAPKs et son complexe récepteur CD74/CD44. Ainsi, MIF pourrait être impliqué dans l'angiogénèse associée à l'endométriose au niveau du site d'implantation ectopique. D'autre part, l'analyse au sein de l'endomètre eutopique indique que MIF induirait une perturbation des mécanismes moléculaires dans les cellules endométriales stromales des femmes atteintes ou non d'endométriose. De plus, il semblerait que les voies ERK et p38 MAPKs soient impliquées dans ce phénomène et que MIF pourrait avoir un rôle dans l'angiogénèse associée à l'endométriose en induisant les facteurs VEGF, IL-8 et MCP-1 dans les cellules endométriales stromales eutopiques des patientes. L'endométriose est une maladie complexe et multifactorielle. Notre étude montre que MIF pourrait être un des facteurs pouvant jouer un rôle crucial dans la pathophysiologie de l'endométriose

Les statistiques sur les visas Schengen comme révélateur des enjeux du régime politique visas de l’Union européenne

Ce travail présente les résultats d’une enquête de terrain au sein des institutions européennes. Prenant comme point de départ les statistiques sur la délivrance de visas court séjour délivrés au sein des consulats des États membres de l’Union européenne (uniquement les pays de l’espace Schengen), et cherchant à savoir comment celles-ci sont compilées, ce mémoire fait l’état des lieux des prérogatives de l’agence Eu-LISA, en charge de la mise en place notamment du Système d’Information Visa (dit V.I.S.) et des nouvelles propositions de législation (European Travel Information and Authorization System, Entry-exit system, interopérabilité des systèmes d’informations, etc.) des périodes 2017-2018, en passe de modifier le régime politique des visas européen voire des politiques migratoires européennes

The small-scale fisheries of Timor-Leste and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) of developing countries are an important yet neglected part of the world’s capture fisheries. The general lack of fisheries dependent and independent data makes it difficult to predict the impact of future crises on SSFs, and thus to prepare for them. This research focusses on the SSF of the small island developing state Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste is a newly independent country, with a still underdeveloped fishery. WorldFish, a non-profit research organisation based in Penang, carries out projects that focus on promoting the fish production of the country to combat malnourishment. One of the ongoing projects is a new catch and effort monitoring program that has been active since 2016. This thesis will be the first to explore and analyse this dataset to give a descriptive analysis of the SSF of Timor-Leste. Simultaneously, the data is used to examine the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to give insight on how the fisheries cope under the pressure of such a health emergency. The SSF of Timor-Leste has the characteristics of a typical small-scale fishery, having small inshore boats and crews and catching multiple species. The climate and other occupations such as agriculture determine the seasonality pattern of the fisheries. The catch is sold locally and what cannot be traded is kept for own consumption. The results suggest that the SSF of Timor-Leste is quite resilient against the COVID-19 crisis. While experiencing a decline in the market value of the catch, it does not appear to have been as impactful as in other SSFs, where a decrease in fishing effort has been measured as well. It is possible that the limited export and modest tourism sector of Timor-Leste have sheltered the fisheries from enduring the same shock that other SSFs have. It will thus be important to put a significant amount of effort into preserving the resilience of the fisheries when promoting and developing the sector. This thesis contributes to filling the data gap present of small-scale fisheries, and hopefully incites an increase of descriptive analyses of SSFs

A higher sense of place: A people focussed alternative for affordable dense redevelopment

Decent, affordable housing is fundamental to the health and well-being of people and to the smooth functioning of economies. Yet especially Mumbai is struggling to meet those needs. Approximately half the population (over 6 million people) live in slums or slum-like dwellings, deplorable conditions where people suffer from one or more of the following basic deficiencies in their housing: lack of access to improved water; lack of access to improved sewage facilities (not even an outhouse); living in overcrowded conditions; living in buildings that are structurally unsound; or living in a situation with no security of tenure (that is, without legal rights to be where they are, as renters or as owners). Our project site Nala-Sopara is a fast growing suburb 80km north from the southern tip of Mumbai, centered around the railway line. The dwellings consist mostly of the so-called baithi chawls, which are typical for Mumbai. The chawls are more permanent than other slums, often using materials like concrete and brick, and residents usually have land ownership. Still they are considered to be slums or informal settlements, because the houses and even apartment buildings are illegally built. The permanent nature doesn’t solve much though, as conditions in these chawls are similar and sometimes worse than in the slums.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Global Housin

Les spectres de gouttes des pulvérisateurs agricoles. Méthodes d’analyse et résultats expérimentaux

Size ranges of drops in agricultural sprays. Analytical methods and experimental results. The authors analyse the influence of the size and the distribution curve of the drops from an agricultural spray from the point of view of efficiency and economy of operation. An account is given of sampling methods, size and homogeneity criteria evolved and the first experimental results.Les auteurs analysent l'influence de la finesse et de la courbe de répartition des gouttes émises par les pulvérisateurs agricoles du point de vue de l'efficacité du traitement et des pertes de matière active. Ils exposent les méthodes de prélèvements d'échantillons utilisées, les critères de finesse et d'homogénité qu'ils ont retenus, les premiers résultats expérimentaux obtenus.Bournas L., Veillat J.-C. Les spectres de gouttes des pulvérisateurs agricoles. Méthodes d’analyse et résultats expérimentaux. In: Bulles et gouttes. La tension superficielle en hydraulique. Compte rendu des septièmes journées de l'hydraulique. Paris, 4, 5 et 6 juin 1962. Tome 2, 1963

Glyphosate, but not its metabolite AMPA, alters the honeybee gut microbiota

International audienceThe honeybee (Apis mellifera) has to cope with multiple environmental stressors, especially pesticides. Among those, the herbicide glyphosate and its main metabolite, the amino-methylphosphonic acid (AMPA), are among the most abundant and ubiquitous contaminant in the environment. Through the foraging and storing of contaminated resources, honey-bees are exposed to these xenobiotics. As ingested glyphosate and AMPA are directly in contact with the honeybee gut microbiota, we used quantitative PCR to test whether they could induce significant changes in the relative abundance of the major gut bacterial taxa. Glyphosate induced a strong decrease in Snodgrassella alvi, a partial decrease of a Gillia-mella apicola and an increase in Lactobacillus spp. abundances. In vitro, glyphosate reduced the growth of S. alvi and G. apicola but not Lactobacillus kunkeei. Although being no bee killer, we confirmed that glyphosate can have sublethal effects on the honeybee microbiota. To test whether such imbalanced microbiota could favor pathogen development, honeybees were exposed to glyphosate and to spores of the intestinal parasite Nosema ceranae. Glyphosate did not significantly enhance the effect of the parasite infection. Concerning AMPA, while it could reduce the growth of G. apicola in vitro, it did not induce any significant change in the honeybee microbiota, suggesting that glyphosate is the active component modifying the gut communities

Approche génomique de la biosurveillance des insectes forestiers

International audienc