Globally, the number of recreational fishers is sizeable and increasing in many countries. Associated with this trend is the potential for negative impacts on fish stocks through exploitation or ...management measures such as stocking and introduction of non-native fishes. Nevertheless, recreational fishers can be instrumental in successful fisheries conservation through active involvement in, or initiation of, conservation projects to reduce both direct and external stressors contributing to fishery declines. Understanding fishers' concerns for sustained access to the resource and developing methods for their meaningful participation can have positive impacts on conservation efforts. We examined a suite of case studies that demonstrate successful involvement of recreational fishers in conservation and management activities that span developed and developing countries, temperate and tropical regions, marine and freshwater systems, and open- and closed-access fisheries. To illustrate potential benefits and challenges of involving recreational fishers in fisheries management and conservation, we examined the socioeconomic and ecological contexts of each case study. We devised a conceptual framework for the engagement of recreational fishers that targets particular types of involvement (enforcement, advocacy, conservation, management design type and location, research, and monitoring) on the basis of degree of stakeholder stewardship, scale of the fishery, and source of impacts (internal or external). These activities can be enhanced by incorporating local knowledge and traditions, taking advantage of leadership and regional networks, and creating collaborations among various stakeholder groups, scientists, and agencies to maximize the probability of recreational fisher involvement and project success. /// Globalmente, el número de pescadores recreativos es considerable y está incrementando en muchos países. Esta tendencia se asocia con el potencial de impactos negativos sobre la disponibilidad de peces mediante la explotación o medidas de manejo como el aprovisionamiento e introducción de peces no nativos. Sin embargo, los pescadores recreativos pueden jugar un papel decisivo en el éxito de la conservación de pesquerías mediante su participación activa en, o en el inicio de, proyectos de conservación para reducir los factores estresantes, tanto directos como externos, que contribuyen a la declinación de las pesquerías. El entendimiento de las preocupaciones de los pescadores por el acceso sustentable al recurso y por el desarrollo de métodos para una participación significativa puede tener impactos positivos sobre los esfuerzos de conservación. Examinamos un conjunto de estudios de caso que demuestran una participación exitosa de pescadores recreativos en actividades de manejo y conservación en países desarrollados y en desarrollo, regiones templadas y tropicales, sistemas marinos y dulceacuícolas y en pesquerías de acceso abierto y cerrado. Para ilustrar los beneficios y retos potenciales de involucrar a pescadores recreativos en el manejo y la conservación de pesquerías, examinamos el contexto socioeconómico y ecológico de cada estudio de caso. Diseñamos un marco conceptual para comprometer a pescadores recreativos que enfoca diferentes tipos de compromiso (coerción, intercesión, conservación, diseño de manejo tipo y localidades, investigación y monitoreo) con base en el grado de responsabilidad de las partes interesadas, la escala de la pesquería y la fuente de impactos (interna o externa). Estas actividades se pueden mejorar mediante la incorporación del conocimiento y tradiciones locales, el aprovechamiento de las redes regionales de liderazgo y la creación de colaboraciones entre los diferentes grupos de interés, científicos y agencias para maximizar la probabilidad de la participación de pescadores recreativos y el éxito del proyecto.
Chronic pain is a major health issue, and the search for new analgesics has become increasingly important because of the addictive properties and unwanted side effects of opioids. To explore ...potentially new drug targets, we investigated mutations in the
gene found in individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA).
encodes tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), the receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF) and that contributes to nociception. Molecular modeling and biochemical analysis identified mutations that decreased the interaction between TrkA and one of its substrates and signaling effectors, phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ). We developed a cell-permeable phosphopeptide derived from TrkA (TAT-pQYP) that bound the Src homology domain 2 (SH2) of PLCγ. In HEK-293T cells, TAT-pQYP inhibited the binding of heterologously expressed TrkA to PLCγ and decreased NGF-induced, TrkA-mediated PLCγ activation and signaling. In mice, intraplantar administration of TAT-pQYP decreased mechanical sensitivity in an inflammatory pain model, suggesting that targeting this interaction may be analgesic. The findings demonstrate a strategy to identify new targets for pain relief by analyzing the signaling pathways that are perturbed in CIPA.
Aim
Exercise training has been suggested as a non‐pharmacological approach to prevent skeletal muscle wasting and improve muscle function in cancer cachexia. However, little is known about the ...molecular mechanisms underlying such beneficial effect. In this study, we aimed to, firstly, examine the contribution of TWEAK signalling to cancer‐induced skeletal muscle wasting and, secondly, evaluate whether long‐term exercise alters TWEAK signalling and prevents muscle wasting.
Methods
Female Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control and exercise groups. Fifteen animals from each group were exposed to N‐Methyl‐N‐nitrosourea carcinogen. Animals in exercise groups were submitted to moderate treadmill exercise for 35 weeks. After the experimental period, animals were killed and gastrocnemius muscles were harvested for morphological and biochemical analysis.
Results
We verified that exercise training prevented tumour‐induced TWEAK/NF‐κB signalling in skeletal muscle with a beneficial impact in fibre cross‐sectional area and metabolism. Indeed, 35 weeks of exercise training promoted the upregulation of PGC‐1α and oxidative phosphorylation complexes. This exercise‐induced muscle remodelling in tumour‐bearing animals was associated with less malignant mammary lesions.
Conclusion
Data support the benefits of an active lifestyle for the prevention of muscle wasting secondary to breast cancer, highlighting TWEAK/NF‐ κB signalling as a potential therapeutic target for the preservation of muscle mass.
This study introduces and discusses inorganic geochemical data from Patos Lagoon, the world’s largest choked coastal lagoon located in southern Brazil. Here, we characterise the sedimentary ...geochemical environment using different elemental ratios to assess the influence of both anthropogenic activities and the natural hydrological regime on the contemporary geochemical record. Three sediment cores collected in the freshwater domain of Patos Lagoon were analysed. Elements Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Sr, Ti and V were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Strong correlations between Sr and Ca, together with the lack of correlation with detrital elements suggested that carbonate precipitation is particularly important in this system. Lithogenic elements Al, K, Fe and Ti reflected the influence of the Guaíba River on the sedimentary sequences of Patos Lagoon. The K/Al ratio was used to investigate changes in weathering patterns and Ti/Al to evaluate grain size changes. Ti/Ca provided an excellent proxy for inferring historical changes in wetter and drier conditions, and also appears to be sensitive to the influence of ENSO events. Finally, the V/Cr ratio reflected the prevailing reducing conditions of the bottom sediments. Overall, our findings show that processes of sediment weathering, transport and deposition are mostly related to natural process, and given the large size of the system, the dilution processes could play an important role in attenuating geochemical changes related to human impacts.
Selectivity control of the decomposition of sulfur mustard (bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide) under photo-oxidation conditions using molecular oxygen remains a challenge. In this work, the photo-oxidation ...of a mustard-gas simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), was studied using porphyrin-based metal–organic framework (Por-MOFs) catalysts. It is shown that Por-MOFs are selective oxidizing agents in the transformation of CEES into 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfoxide (CEESO) without the formation of the highly toxic sulfone product 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfone (CEESO2). This method to detoxify mustard gas is regarded as more realistic, convenient, and effective than the other available methods.
Coffea arabica
L. is an important agricultural commodity, accounting for 60% of traded coffee worldwide. Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient that is usually limiting to plant yield; however, molecular ...mechanisms of plant acclimation to N limitation remain largely unknown in tropical woody crops. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome of coffee roots under N starvation, analyzing poly-A+ libraries and small RNAs. We also evaluated the concentration of selected amino acids and N-source preferences in roots. Ammonium was preferentially taken up over nitrate, and asparagine and glutamate were the most abundant amino acids observed in coffee roots. We obtained 34,654 assembled contigs by mRNA sequencing, and validated the transcriptional profile of 12 genes by RT-qPCR. Illumina small RNA sequencing yielded 8,524,332 non-redundant reads, resulting in the identification of 86 microRNA families targeting 253 genes. The transcriptional pattern of eight miRNA families was also validated. To our knowledge, this is the first catalog of differentially regulated amino acids, N sources, mRNAs, and sRNAs in Arabica coffee roots.
Purpose
To characterize the progression in retinopathy severity of different phenotypes of mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Design and methods
...Patients with type 2 diabetes and mild NPDR (ETDRS 20 or 35) were followed in a 5-year longitudinal study. Examinations, including color fundus photography (CFP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT and OCTA), were performed at baseline, 6 months and then annually. Phenotype classification was performed based on microaneurysm turnover (MAT, on CFP) and central retinal thickness (CRT, on OCT). Phenotype A is characterized by low MAT (< 6) and normal CRT; Phenotype B by low MAT (< 6) and increased CRT; and Phenotype C by higher MAT (≥ 6) with or without increased CRT. ETDRS grading of seven fields CFP was performed at the initial and last visits.
Results
Analysis of ETDRS grade step changes showed significant differences in diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression between the different phenotypes (
p
< 0.001). Of the 66 participants with phenotype A only 2 eyes (3%) presented 2-or-more-step worsening. None of the 50 participants characterized as phenotype B developed 2-step worsening, whereas 13 eyes (23.2%) characterized as phenotype C had 2-or-more-steps worsening. Phenotype C presents the higher risk for 2-or-more step worsening (OR: 15.94 95% CI: 3.45–73.71;
p
< 0.001) and higher sensitivity, correctly identifying 86.7% of cases at risk (AUC: 0.84 95% CI: 0.72–0.96;
p
< 0.001). Diabetic retinopathy severity progression was associated with HbA
1c
(
p
= 0.019), LDL levels (
p
= 0.043), and ocular factors as MAT (
p
= 0.010), MA formation rate (
p
= 0.014) and MA disappearance rate (
p
= 0.005). Capillary closure at 5-year follow-up, identified by lower vessel density (VD) on OCTA, was also associated with diabetic DR severity progression (
p
= 0.035).
Conclusions
Different DR phenotypes in type 2 diabetes show different risks of retinopathy progression. Phenotype C is associated with increased HbA
1c
values and presents a higher risk of a 2-or-more-step worsening of the ETDRS severity score.
Graphene oxide (GO) properties make it a promising material for graphene-based applications in areas such as biomedicine, agriculture, and the environment. Thus, its production is expected to ...increase, reaching hundreds of tons every year. One GO final destination is freshwater bodies, possibly affecting the communities of these systems. To clarify the effect that GO may impose in freshwater communities, a fluvial biofilm scraped from submerged river stones was exposed to a range (0.1 to 20 mg/L) of GO concentrations during 96 h. With this approach, we hypothesized that GO can: (1) cause mechanical damage and morphological changes in cell biofilms; (2) interfere with the absorption of light by biofilms; (3) and generate oxidative stress, causing oxidative damage and inducing biochemical and physiological alterations. Our results showed that GO did not inflict mechanical damage. Instead, a positive effect is proposed, linked to the ability of GO to bind cations and increase the micronutrient availability to biofilms. High concentrations of GO increased photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll a, b, and c, and carotenoids) content as a strategy to capture the available light more effectively as a response to the shading effect. A significant increase in the enzymatic (SOD and GSTs activity) and low molecular weight (lipids and carotenoids) antioxidant response was observed, that efficiently reduced oxidative stress effects, reducing the level of peroxidation, and preserving membrane integrity. Being complex entities, biofilms are more similar to environmental communities and may provide more accurate information to evaluate the impact of GO in aquatic systems.
The combination of ocean warming and acidification brings an uncertain future to kelp forests that occupy the warmest parts of their range. These forests are not only subject to the direct negative ...effects of ocean climate change, but also to a combination of unknown indirect effects associated with changing ecological landscapes. Here, we used mesocosm experiments to test the direct effects of ocean warming and acidification on kelp biomass and photosynthetic health, as well as climate‐driven disparities in indirect effects involving key consumers (urchins and rock lobsters) and competitors (algal turf). Elevated water temperature directly reduced kelp biomass, while their turf‐forming competitors expanded in response to ocean acidification and declining kelp canopy. Elevated temperatures also increased growth of urchins and, concurrently, the rate at which they thinned kelp canopy. Rock lobsters, which are renowned for keeping urchin populations in check, indirectly intensified negative pressures on kelp by reducing their consumption of urchins in response to elevated temperature. Overall, these results suggest that kelp forests situated towards the low‐latitude margins of their distribution will need to adapt to ocean warming in order to persist in the future. What is less certain is how such adaptation in kelps can occur in the face of intensifying consumptive (via ocean warming) and competitive (via ocean acidification) pressures that affect key ecological interactions associated with their persistence. If such indirect effects counter adaptation to changing climate, they may erode the stability of kelp forests and increase the probability of regime shifts from complex habitat‐forming species to more simple habitats dominated by algal turfs.
PDF
