Seafood mislabeling is common in both domestic and international markets. Studies on seafood fraud often report high rates of mislabeling (e.g., > 70%), but these studies have been limited to a ...single sampling year, which means it is difficult to assess the impact of stricter governmental truth-in-labeling regulations. We used DNA barcoding to assess seafood labeling in 26 sushi restaurants in Los Angeles over 4 years. Seafood from 3 high-end grocery stores were also sampled (n — 16) in 2014. We ordered 9 common sushi fish from menus, preserved tissue samples in 95% ethanol, extracted the genomic DNA, amplified and sequenced a portion of the mtDNA COI gene, and identified the resulting sequence to known fish sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide database. We compared DNA results with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) list of acceptable market names and retail names. We considered sushi-sample labels that were inconsistent with FDA names mislabeled. Sushi restaurants had a consistently high percentage of mislabeling (47%; 151 of 323) from 2012 to 2015, yet mislabeling was not homogenous across species. Halibut, red snapper, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail had consistently high (< 77%) occurrences of mislabeling on menus, whereas mislabeling of salmon and mackerel were typically low (> 15%). All sampled sushi restaurants had at least one case of mislabeling. Mislabeling of sushi-grade fish from high-end grocery stores was also identified in red snapper, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail, but at a slightly lower frequency (42%) than sushi restaurants. Despite increased regulatory measures and media attention, we found seafood mislabeling continues to be prevalent. La mala etiquetación de pescados es común tanto en los mercados domésticos como en los internacionales. Los estudios sobre el fraude de pescados generalmente reportan tasas altas de mala etiquetación (p. ej.: >70 %), pero estos estudios han sido limitados a un sólo muestreo al año, lo que significa que es complicado evaluar el impacto de regulaciones gubernamentales más estrictas sobre las etiquetas verídicas. Utilizamos el código de barras de ADN para evaluar el etiquetado de pescados en 26 restaurantes de sushi en Los Ángeles durante cuatro años. Los pescados de tres supermercados lujosos también fueron muestreados (n = 16) en el 2014. Ordenamos nueve pescados comunes en el sushi de los menús, preservamos las muestras de tejido en etanol al 95 %, extrajimos el ADN genómico, amplificamos y secuenciamos la porción del gen COIdelADNmt, e identificamos la secuencia resultante a partir de secuencias de peces de la base de datos de nucleótidos del Centro Nacional para la Información Biotecnológica. Comparamos los resultados de ADN con la lista de nombres aceptables para el mercado y de venta al menudeo de la Administración Estadunidense de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, en inglés). Consideramos como mal etiquetadas a las muestras de sushi que no fueron consistentes con los nombres de la FDA. Los restaurantes de sushi tuvieron constantemente un porcentaje alto de mala etiquetación (47 %; 151 de 323) de 2012 a 2015, sin embargo, la mala etiquetación no fue homogénea entre las especies. El hipogloso, el huachinango, el atún de aleta amarilla y el jurel tuvieron ocurrencias altas (<77 %) de mala etiquetación en los menús, mientras que la mala etiquetación del salmón y la caballa fue típicamente baja (>15 %). Todos los restaurantes de sushi muestreados tuvieron por lo menos un caso de mala etiquetación. La mala etiquetación de pescado con calidad para sushi de los supermercados lujosos también fue identificada para el huachinango, el atún de aleta amarilla y el jurel, pero a una frecuencia un poco menor (42 %) que en los restaurantes de sushi. A pesar del incremento en las medidas regulatorias y en la atención de los medios, encontramos que la mala etiquetación de los pescados todavía es prevalente.
The Japanese cuisine has become a huge success in Brazil over the last years, but little is known about the fisheries resources commercialized to supply this specific market. In the present study, we ...carried out the first molecular characterization of sushi and sashimi products available in northeastern Pará, coastal Amazon, in order to infer what species have been actually exploited in this trade. We sequenced two mitochondrial DNA regions from 172 samples (138 of fish and 34 of shrimp-derived products) that were divided into 28 haplotypes. The comparative analyses with public DNA barcode databases revealed eight species of fish and three of shrimps among the samples, including cases of commercial frauds. For instance, Ruvettus pretiosus and Lepidocybium flavobrunneum were traded as “anchova” (bluefish), a valid and specific commercial name of Pomatomus saltatrix. Both species can cause gastrointestinal issues, which has led to restrictions on their sale in several countries. All commercialized shrimp-derived products were labeled as “camarão” (shrimp), as generic trade name that could not be applied to identify each species. Furthermore, potentially threatened species have also been recorded in the commercial products, such as Salmo salar and Cynoscion acoupa, classified as “nearly threatened” and “vulnerable”, respectively. The later, popularly known as “pescada-amarela” (acoupa weakfish) has been commercialized as “peixe-branco” (white fish), a designation that is not recognized by the Brazilian regulatory agencies. Both DNA markers (COI and 16S rRNA) were highly efficient in identifying the species from all samples, providing the first list of exploited species for Japanese cuisine along the coastal Amazon. Besides revealing issues in the commercialization of Japanese food items, we recorded a largely overlooked diversity of traded species. These data represent a potential risk to public health and to the environmental conservation such as the presence of exotic species and the exploitation of threatened species that should be considered to support effective policies for the regional regulation of this market.
•Commercial fraud found in products sold as “anchovas”.•Fish sold as “anchovas” can cause health problems.•Common marketing terms make it difficult to characterize species.•Species under some degree of threat are being offered.
The main objective of this study was to document details of both individual and institutional financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs) reported by the authors of clinical trials. An additional ...objective was to assess the predictors of having at least one author reporting any FCOI.
We used a sample of randomized controlled trials from a previous cross-sectional survey and included the trials, which reported at least one FCOI disclosure. We categorized the types of disclosed FCOI as grant, employment income, personal fees, nonmonetary support, drug or equipment supplies, patent, stocks, and other types. We collected data on the characteristics of the included RCTs, of the authors, and of the reported FCOI disclosures. We conducted descriptive analyses and a regression analysis to assess the predictors of having at least one author reporting any FCOI.
All 108 included RCTs reported being funded, with 58% reporting funding by a private-for-profit source. Out of 1,687 authors, 814 (48%) reported at least one, and a median of 2, FCOI disclosures. Of the 814 reporting disclosures, far more reported individual FCOIs (99%) than institutional FCOIs (6%). The most commonly reported individual FCOI subtypes were grant (49%), personal fees (48%), and employment income (22%). Of the 99% of disclosures that included the source of FCOI, a private-for-profit entity provided the funds in 85%. Reporting about the relation of the FCOI source's to the product investigated in the trial, the timing of FCOI, and monetary value of FCOI was limited. Reporting of FCOIs proved most strongly associated with author affiliation being an academic institution (OR = 2.981; 95% CI: 2.415-3.680) and trial funding from entity other than a private-for-profit entity (OR = 2.809; 95% CI: 2.274-3.470).
Approximately half of the trial authors report individual FCOIs, often three or more, but seldom provide details related to source's relation to the trial, or the timing and monetary value of the FCOI.
Spodoptera frugiperda is an invasive pest from the American continent that attacks corn (Zea mays) and rapidly invaded Africa and Asia. Two main factors that support migration and population ...distribution of this species are suitable habitats and human activities. To date, two genetic strains of S. frugiperda have been found in corn in Indonesia: the corn strain (CS) and the rice strain (RS). The most accurate gene markers to detect these strains are COI and Tpi, which are located in mitochondria and Z chromosome. This study aims to determine the existing strains of S. frugiperda and their distribution in various landscapes in Bogor Regency. The research was conducted from July 2020 to December 2021 in Bogor, West Java. Sampling of S. fungiperda was carried out from corn plants in Leuwisadeng, Pamijahan1, Pamijahan2, Kemang, Tenjolaya, Dramaga, Cigombong, Cijeruk, Tamansari, and Ciomas. Larval samples were collected and preserved using 96% ethanol, followed by DNA extraction, DNA amplification, electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing. Distribution data were analyzedusing QGIS and Google Earth Pro programs, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22. Sequence data were edited using GeneStudio, aligned using ClustalW in BioEdit, and the phylogeny tree was reconstructed using the neighbor-joining method (bootstrap 1000x) using MEGA X. The obtained sequences were compared with sequences from the GenBank® database. The results showed the presence of two distinct strains of COI (COI-CSh4 and COI-RS) and one strain of Tpi (Tpi-C) in Bogor. The study found no relationship between thelandscape structure and genetic variation of S. frugiperda.
Hazelnuts, constituting a significant global crop, hold paramount importance in Türkiye, contributing to approximately 71.14 % of the world's hazelnut cultivation area. In the summer of 2023, ...hazelnut trees in two orchards situated in the Altınordu district of Ordu province, within the Black Sea region of Türkiye, the largest producer and exporter of hazelnuts, exhibited symptoms of decline associated with root rot. Phytophthora sp. was consistently isolated from necrotic taproots, initiating an in-depth study to discern the causal agent behind the observed hazelnut decline. The species was identified as P. polonica by its distinctive morphological traits, including homothallic characteristics, amphigynous or paragynous antheridia, long nonbranching sporangiophores, and nonpapillate sporangia with internal proliferation. Multiple genetic markers (ITS, tub2, and COI) facilitated a clear differentiation of P. polonica from other Phytophthora species within Clade 9, supporting its classification within Subclade 9b. This investigation also evaluated the impact of diverse nutrient media (CA, V8A, and CMA), temperatures, and pH levels on the mycelial growth of P. polonica HPp-1 and HPp-2 isolates. The optimal conditions for maximal mycelial growth were determined through the D-optimal design of the Response Surface Method, revealing the significant influence of all factors on mycelial growth. The identified optimal conditions were at 26.09 °C, pH 5.12, with CMA as the nutrient medium. Validation experiments conducted under these optimal conditions unveiled mycelial growth of 7.24 ± 0.15 mm day−1 and 6.81 ± 0.09 mm day−1 for P. polonica HPp-1 and HPp-2 isolates, respectively, with an error of less than 5 %. Pathogenicity assessments confirmed P. polonica's virulence on hazelnuts, with distinct lesion development observed in twig inoculation, cut stem segments, and foliar tests. While no statistically significant difference was noted in lesion areas between HPp-1 and HPp-2 isolates in twig and stem segment assays, a statistical difference in leaf lesion areas (19.96 ± 2.04 cm2 and 9.16 ± 3.43 cm2) emerged in foliar tests after only a 5-day incubation period, indicating their high susceptibility to the pathogen. This study is the first to report P. polonica as a hazelnut pathogen in Türkiye and around the world, highlighting the previously non-existent threat of Phytophthora root rot in hazelnuts, given the substantial lack of scientifically documented cases related to hazelnut root rot diseases. The quadratic model design employed in physiological analyses is reliable for optimizing mycelial growth and can serve as a guiding framework for similar investigations.
•Hazelnut trees in Türkiye's Black Sea region, a leading hazelnut producer, showed root rot symptoms.•Phytophthora sp. isolated from roots was identified as Phytophthora polonica through morphological and phylogenetic analyses.•Optimum mycelial growth conditions of 26.09 °C, pH 5.12, and CMA medium were determined by D-optimal design.•Phytophthora polonica caused hazelnut necrotic lesions and was identified as a global hazelnut pathogen for the first time.
Freshwater mussels are a guild of stationary, suspended-feeding species; they perform significant ecological functions like nitrogen cycling, bioturbation that gives oxygen and habitat that other ...creatures need to survive, and increasing water clearance by filtration. Knowledge of the freshwater mussel Unio tigridis Bourguignat, 1852, distribution, and molecular study in Iraq was inadequate. In the current study, this species of freshwater Mussels belonging to the family Unionidae was collected from different locations in the Greater Zab River, from April to August 2022. The average water temperature of the site was arranged between (17.8 to 36.1 C°). All previous studies in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq were based on morphological characters and the current study was the first report of Unio tigridis that was confirmed by molecular genetics and COI gene, analyzed phylogenetically using Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony Methods.
Neighborhoods provide essential resources (eg, education, safe housing, green space) that influence neurodevelopment and mental health. However, we need a clearer understanding of the mechanisms ...mediating these relationships. Limited access to neighborhood resources may hinder youths from achieving their goals and, over time, shape their behavioral and neurobiological response to negatively biased environments blocking goals and rewards.
To test this hypothesis, 211 youths (aged ∼13.0 years, 48% boys, 62% identifying as White, 75% with a psychiatric disorder diagnosis) performed a task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Initially, rewards depended on performance (unbiased condition); but later, rewards were randomly withheld under the pretense that youths did not perform adequately (negatively biased condition), a manipulation that elicits frustration, sadness, and a broad response in neural networks. We investigated associations between the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI), which quantifies access to youth-relevant neighborhood features in 1 metric, and the multimodal response to the negatively biased condition, controlling for age, sex, medication, and psychopathology.
Youths from less-resourced neighborhoods responded with less anger (p < .001, marginal R2 = 0.42) and more sadness (p < .001, marginal R2 = 0.46) to the negatively biased condition than youths from well-resourced neighborhoods. On the neurobiological level, lower COI scores were associated with a more localized processing mode (p = .039, marginal R2 = 0.076), reduced connectivity between the somatic–motor–salience and the control network (p = .041, marginal R2 = 0.040), and fewer provincial hubs in the somatic–motor–salience, control, and default mode networks (all pFWE < .05).
The present study adds to a growing literature documenting how inequity may affect the brain and emotions in youths. Future work should test whether findings generalize to more diverse samples and should explore effects on neurodevelopmental trajectories and emerging mood disorders during adolescence.
One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group.
We found Albiphasma heringi (Mell, 1922) and A. pieridoides (Liu & Gu, 1994) to be conspecific by the 658 bp COI gene sequences and male genitalia characters. Considering the distinguishable wing ...patterns and allopatric distribution of the two taxa, we treat pieridoides as a subspecies of heringi. Therefore, the genus Albiphasma Huang, Chiba, Wang and Fan, 2016, which was established for heringi and pieridoides, becomes monotypic, and in light of morphological similarities and close genetic distance between heringi and Pintara bowringi (Joicey & Talbot, 1921), we propose its synonymy with Pintara Evans, 1932. The adults and male genitalia of both P. heringi heringi (Mell, 1922) and P. heringi pieridoides (Liu & Gu, 1994) are illustrated.
