Alternative Strategies Research Articles

The interplay of local adaptation and gene flow may lead to the formation of supergenes.

Supergenes are genetic architectures resulting in the segregation of alternative combinations of alleles underlying complex phenotypes. The co-segregation of alleles at linked loci is often facilitated by polymorphic chromosomal rearrangements suppressing recombination locally. Supergenes are involved in many complex polymorphisms, including sexual, colour or behavioural polymorphisms in numerous plants, fungi, mammals, fish, and insects. Despite a long history of empirical and theoretical research, the formation of supergenes remains poorly understood. Here, using a two-island population genetic model, we explore how gene flow and the evolution of overdominant chromosomal inversions may jointly lead to the formation of supergenes. We show that the evolution of inversions in differentiated populations, both under disruptive selection, leads to an increase in frequency of poorly adapted, immigrant haplotypes. Indeed, rare allelic combinations, such as immigrant haplotypes, are more frequently reshuffled by recombination than common allelic combinations, and therefore benefit from the recombination suppression generated by inversions. When an inversion capturing a locally adapted haplotype spreads but is associated with a fitness cost hampering its fixation (e.g. a recessive mutation load), the maintenance of a non-inverted haplotype in the population is enhanced; under certain conditions, the immigrant haplotype persists alongside the inverted local haplotype, while the standard local haplotype disappears. This establishes a stable, local polymorphism with two non-recombining haplotypes encoding alternative adaptive strategies, that is, a supergene. These results bring new light to the importance of local adaptation, overdominance, and gene flow in the formation of supergenes and inversion polymorphisms in general.

The Role of Contrast-Enhanced Mammography After Cryoablation of Breast Cancer.

Image-guided cryoablation is an emerging therapeutic technique for the treatment of breast cancer and is a treatment strategy that is an effective alternate to surgery in select patients. Tumor features impacting the efficacy of cryoablation include size, location in relation to skin, and histology (e.g., extent of intraductal component), underscoring the importance of imaging for staging and workup in this patient population. Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) utilization is increasing in both the screening and diagnostic settings and may be useful for follow-up imaging after breast cancer cryoablation, given its high sensitivity for cancer detection and its advantages in terms of PPV, time, cost, eligibility, and accessibility compared with contrast-enhanced MRI. This Clinical Perspective describes the novel use of CEM after breast cancer cryoablation, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of CEM compared with alternate imaging modalities, expected benign postablation CEM findings, and CEM findings suggestive of residual or recurrent tumor.

Enhanced bone regeneration in rat calvarial defects through BMP2 release from engineered poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels

The clinical standard therapy for large bone defects, typically addressed through autograft or allograft donor tissue, faces significant limitations. Tissue engineering offers a promising alternative strategy for the regeneration of substantial bone lesions. In this study, we harnessed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels, optimizing critical parameters including stiffness, incorporation of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) cell adhesion motifs, degradability, and the release of BMP2 to promote bone formation. In vitro we demonstrated that human bone marrow derived stromal cell (hBMSC) proliferation and spreading strongly correlates with hydrogel stiffness and adhesion to RGD peptide motifs. Moreover, the incorporation of the osteogenic growth factor BMP2 into the hydrogels enabled sustained release, effectively inducing bone regeneration in encapsulated progenitor cells. When used in vivo to treat calvarial defects in rats, we showed that hydrogels of low and intermediate stiffness optimally facilitated cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation promoting the efficient repair of bone defects. Our comprehensive in vitro and in vivo findings collectively suggest that the developed hydrogels hold significant promise for clinical translation for bone repair and regeneration by delivering sustained and controlled stimuli from active signaling molecules.

Lung Progenitor and Stem Cell Transplantation as a Potential Regenerative Therapy for Lung Diseases.

Chronic lung diseases are debilitating illnesses ranking among the top causes of death globally. Currently, clinically available therapeutic options capable of curing chronic lung diseases are limited to lung transplantation, which is hindered by donor organ shortage. This highlights the urgent need for alternative strategies to repair damaged lung tissues. Stem cell transplantation has emerged as a promising avenue for regenerative treatment of the lung, which involves delivery of healthy lung epithelial progenitor cells that subsequently engraft in the injured tissue and further differentiate to reconstitute the functional respiratory epithelium. These transplanted progenitor cells possess the remarkable ability to self-renew, thereby offering the potential for sustained long-term treatment effects. Notably, the transplantation of basal cells, the airway stem cells, holds the promise for rehabilitating airway injuries resulting from environmental factors or genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis. Similarly, for diseases affecting the alveoli, alveolar type II cells have garnered interest as a viable alveolar stem cell source for restoring the lung parenchyma from genetic or environmentally induced dysfunctions. Expanding upon these advancements, the use of induced pluripotent stem cells to derive lung progenitor cells for transplantation offers advantages such as scalability and patient specificity. In this review, we comprehensively explore the progress made in lung stem cell transplantation, providing insights into the current state of the field and its future prospects.

Evaluation of breeding cost in the French maritime pine breeding program and perspectives for alternative strategies using molecular markers

The economic efficiency of conventional breeding strategies for forest trees based on biparental crosses is compared with that of alternative strategies based on pedigree reconstruction using molecular markers. Analyses of economic efficiency is based on comparisons of breeding scenarios corresponding to the same total investment. The first step is the description and cost evaluation of each basic operation, from crossing to genetic selection and clonal archive establishment. Breeding scenarios are then compared by stochastic sampling with a parametric genetic model (POPSIM), the comparison criteria in this case being genetic gain in the seed orchard for a given level of genetic diversity. Additionally, the economic gain resulting from the use of improved material is estimated for different levels of breeding investment. Our analysis shows that genotyping costs account for a much smaller proportion of total investment than phenotyping costs. We also show that, in comparisons of breeding scenarios corresponding to the same total investment, the three main breeding strategies (biparental crosses, polymix crosses, and open pollination) achieve similar genetic gains provided that sufficiently large numbers of parents are considered. These results open up promising perspectives for the wider integration of molecular markers into forest tree breeding strategies.

Preliminary report on therapeutic potential of coal-derived carbon quantum dots against SARS-CoV-2 virus

Due to the pandemic of COVID-19 and subsequent emerging of new mutant strains, there has been a worldwide hunt for therapeutic and protective agents for its inhibition. In this short communication, for the first time, we report the coal-derived carbon quantum dot (CQD) for the possible therapeutic application against SARS-CoV-2. The synthesized C1-CQD is observed to be safe towards the normal cell line at highest dose, while effectively inhibiting growth of SARS-CoV2 (>95%) with IC50 value of 5.469 μg/mL. Moreover, C1-CQD showed activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection which is comparable to known inhibitory antiviral drug i.e., Remdesivir. These novel findings indicate that coal-based CQDs have highly potent anti-viral activity and could be investigated further for developing cheap and safer alternative therapeutic strategies for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.

Co-spray dried inhalable composite powders of ciprofloxacin and alginate oligosaccharide as anti-biofilm therapy

The treatment of chronic respiratory infections caused by biofilm formation are extremely challenging owing to poor drug penetration into the complex biofilm structure and high drug resistance. Local delivery of an antibiotic together with a non-antibiotic adjuvant to the lungs could often enhance the therapeutic responses by targeting different bacterial growth pathways and minimizing drug resistance. In this study, we designed new inhalable dry powders containing ciprofloxacin (CIP) and OligoG (Oli, a low-molecular-weight alginate oligosaccharide impairing the mucoid biofilms by interacting with their cationic ions) to combat respiratory bacterial biofilm infections. The resulting powders were characterized with respect to their morphology, solid-state property, surface chemistry, moisture sorption behavior, and dissolution rate. The aerosol performance and storage stability of the dry powders were also evaluated. The results showed that inhalable dry powders composed of CIP and Oli could be readily accomplished via the wet milling and spray drying process. Upon the storage under 20 ± 2 °C/20 ± 2 % relative humidity (RH) for one month, there was no significant change in the in vitro aerosol performances of the dry powders. In contrast, the dry powders became non-inhalable following the storage at 20 ± 2 °C/53 ± 2 % RH for one month due to the hygroscopic nature of Oli, which could be largely prevented by incorporation of leucine. Collectively, this study suggests that the newly developed co-spray-dried powders composed of CIP and Oli might represent a promising and alternative treatment strategy against respiratory bacterial biofilm infections.

Effectiveness of Bilingual Project-Based Materials to Facilitate Literacy and Numeracy Teaching

The purpose of this study is to find out how well bilingual project-based learning resources may improve the literacy and numeracy abilities of primary school students. Numerous researches conducted at many levels presented the effectiveness of the project-based approach. Yet, few of them address the potential benefits of incorporating it into the curriculum, focusing on both language proficiency and mathematical competence. This experimental study utilized a nonrandomized control group design involving two classes of 6-8-year-old students. A two-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the data from 39 students that were gathered through exams and paperwork. The results demonstrated that using bilingual project-based learning resources can be an alternate strategy for improving primary school students' literacy and numeracy skills.

Pyrethroid resistance status and co-occurrence of V1016G, F1534C and S989P mutations in the Aedes aegypti population from two dengue outbreak counties along the China-Myanmar border

BackgroundOver the past two decades, dengue fever (DF) has emerged as a significant arboviral disease in Yunnan province, China, particularly in the China-Myanmar border area. Aedes aegypti, an invasive mosquito species, plays a crucial role in transmitting the dengue virus to the local population. Insecticide-based vector control has been the primary tool employed to combat DF, but the current susceptibility status of Ae. aegypti to commonly used insecticides is unknown. Assessment of Ae. aegypti resistance to pyrethroid insecticides and an understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this resistance in the China-Myanmar border region is of significant strategic importance for effectively controlling the DF epidemic in the area.MethodsAedes aegypti larvae collected from Ruili and Gengma counties in Yunnan Province were reared to adults in the laboratory and tested for susceptibility to three pyrethroid insecticides (3.20% permethrin, 0.08% lambda-cyhalothrin and 0.20% deltamethrin) by the standard WHO susceptibility bioassay. Genotyping of mutations in the knockdown gene (kdr), namely S989P, V1016G and F1534C, that are responsible for resistance to pyrethroid insecticides was performed using allele-specific PCR methods. A possible association between the observed resistant phenotype and mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) was also studied.ResultsAedes aegypti mosquitoes collected from the two counties and reared in the laboratory were resistant to all of the pyrethroids tested, with the exception of Ae. aegypti from Gengma County, which showed sensitivity to 0.20% deltamethrin. The mortality rate of Ae. aegypti from Ruili county exposed to 3.20% permethrin did not differ significantly from that of Ae. aegypti from Gengma County (χ2 = 0.311, P = 0.577). By contrast, the mortality rate of Ae. aegypti from Ruili County exposed to 0.08% lambda-cyhalothrin and 0.20% deltamethrin, respectively, was significantly different from that of Ae. aegypti from Gengma. There was no significant difference in the observed KDT50 of Ae. aegypti from the two counties to various insecticides. Four mutation types and 12 genotypes were detected at three kdr mutation sites. Based on results from all tested Ae. aegypti, the V1016G mutation was the most prevalent kdr mutation (100% prevalence), followed by the S989P mutation (81.6%) and the F1534C mutation (78.9%). The constituent ratio of VGSC gene mutation types was significantly different in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from Ruili and those Gengma. The triple mutant S989P + V1016G + F1534C was observed in 274 Ae. aegypti mosquitoes (60.8%), with the most common genotype being SP + GG + FC (31.4%). The prevalence of the F1534C mutation was significantly higher in resistant Ae. aegypti from Ruili (odds ratio [OR] 7.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71–32.29; P = 0.01) and Gengma (OR 9.29; 95% CI 3.38–25.50; P = 0.00) counties than in susceptible Ae. aegypti when exposed to 3.20% permethrin and 0.08% lambda-cyhalothrin, respectively. No significant association was observed in the triple mutation genotypes with the Ae. aegypti population exposed to 3.20% permethrin and 0.20% deltamethrin resistance (P > 0.05), except for Ae. aegypti from Gengma County when exposed to 0.08% lambda-cyhalothrin (OR 2.86; 95% CI 1.20–6.81; P = 0.02).ConclusionsAedes aegypti from Ruili and Gengma counties have developed resistance to various pyrethroid insecticides. The occurrence of multiple mutant sites in VGSC strongly correlated with the high levels of resistance to pyrethroids in the Ae. aegypti populations, highlighting the need for alternative strategies to manage the spread of resistance. A region-specific control strategy for dengue vectors needs to be implemented in the future based on the status of insecticide resistance and kdr mutations.Graphical

Erythropoietin effects on cryopreserved/transplanted cat ovarian tissue: A comparison of two incubation methods

Many feline species are currently threatened with extinction. Therefore, germplasm bank establishment has become imperative. However, cryoinjury and ischemia-reperfusion injury pose significant obstacles to both cryopreservation and xenotransplantation. In this regard, erythropoietin (Epo) represents a potential alternative strategy due to its properties. This study aimed to assess the incubation of domestic cat ovarian tissue in Epo, both before and after cryopreservation, and investigate its effectiveness in promoting revascularization following xenotransplantation. Sixteen ovaries from 8 healthy cats were sliced following elective bilateral ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Subsequently, 8 fragments measuring 3 mm³ each were obtained from the cortical region of each ovary. The fragments were allocated into 3 treatment groups: Cryo group, fragments were cryopreserved, thawed and immediately transplanted; Cryo + Epo group, fragments were first cryopreserved in nitrogen, thawed, incubated in Epo (100 IU) for 2h and transplanted; and the Epo + Cryo group, in which fragments were first incubated in Epo (100 IU) for 2h, cryopreserved, thawed and immediately transplanted. The fragments were then xenotransplanted into the dorsal subcutaneous region of ovariectomized female nude mice and retrieved at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-transplantation. The results indicated that Epo effectively enhanced follicular survival, preservation of viability, and tissue revascularization. The Epo + Cryo group displayed better revascularization rates on D14 and D21 post-transplantation and an increase in primordial and growing follicles on D28, the Cryo + Epo group exhibited significantly more follicles on D14 and D21, with fewer degenerated follicles.

Multi-functional fluorescent silicon elastomer cross-linked with AIE polymer by dynamic imine bond and its application in anti-counterfeiting

Fluorescent elastomer materials have received extensive attention due to their excellent optical performance, flexibility, and chemical stability in recent years, and demonstrate great application potentials in intelligent sensors, optoelectronic devices, medical equipment and other fields. Although the traditional method for constructing fluorescent elastomers by doping fluorescent small molecules is facile and universal, it also has limitations such as low luminous efficiency, uneven dispersion, poor stability and single function. In this work, an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent polymer with aldehyde groups in side chain was synthesized and crosslinked with aminopropyl double capped polydimethylsiloxane (NH2-PDMS-NH2) through mild Schiff base reaction to construct a fluorescent elastomer. Compared with fluorescent small molecules, AIE polymers have superior fluorescence performance and can be flexibly designed according to demands. The dynamic imine bonds endow the as-obtained elastomers with self-healing and recycling properties, enabling rapid repair and remodeling at room temperature. Besides, the tensile and swelling properties of PDMS enable them to adjust the concentration of fluorescent units in the matrix under corresponding stimulus, thereby achieving tunable fluorescence emission. Taking advantage of the fluorescent elastomers, we prepared fluorescent anti-counterfeiting patterns that were hidden in daylight and visible under UV light, demonstrating the potential applications of the fluorescent elastomers in the fields of anti-counterfeiting and information encryption. This study also provides an alternative strategy for developing multifunctional fluorescent elastomers.

PESANTRENPRENEUR; STRATEGI ALTERNATIF KONSTRUKTIF PENDIDIKAN KEMANDIRIAN EKONOMI SANTRI (STUDI LAPANGAN DI PONDOK PESANTREN RIYADLUL JANNAH PACET MOJOKERTO)

The approach used in this research is a qualitative approach with descriptive research type. Based on the research that has been carried out, it is concluded that alternative strategies in building the economic independence of students at the Riyadlul Jannah Pacet Islamic Boarding School are carried out using several empowerment models, including; First, the model for economic empowerment of students by fostering the potential/intellectual development of students, Second, the model for empowering students through activity programs launched by the Entrepreneur Islamic Boarding School, Third, the Model of empowerment through Social and Moral. Referring to the three empowerment models above, economic development of santri through PesantrenPreneur at STIES Riyadlul Jannah, PP. Riyadlul Jannah Pacet Mojokerto is the first step to build the economic independence of Islamic boarding school students by utilizing Islamic boarding school students as objects for sharia business management.

Ciprofloxacin loaded PEG coated ZnO nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial and wound healing effects

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide health problem that demands alternative antibacterial strategies. Modified nano-composites can be an effective strategy as compared to traditional medicine. The current study was designed to develop a biocompatible nano-drug delivery system with increased efficacy of current therapeutics for biomedical applications. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized by chemical and green methods by mediating with Moringa olifera root extract. The ZnO–NPs were further modified by drug conjugation and coating with PEG (CIP-PEG-ZnO-NPs) to enhance their therapeutic potential. PEGylated ZnO-ciprofloxacin nano-conjugates were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. During antibacterial screenings chemically and green synthesized CIP-PEG-ZnO-NPs revealed significant activity against clinically isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The sustainable and prolonged release of antibiotics was noted from the CIP–PEG conjugated ZnO-NPs. The synthesized nanoparticles were found compatible with RBCs and Baby hamster kidney cell lines (BHK21) during hemolytic and MTT assays respectively. Based on initial findings a broad-spectrum nano-material was developed and tested for biomedical applications that eradicated Staphylococcus aureus from the infectious site and showed wound-healing effects during in vivo applications. ZnO-based nano-drug carrier can offer targeted drug delivery, and improved drug stability and efficacy resulting in better drug penetration.

In situ membrane separation drives nitrous oxide enrichment from nitrate denitrification for energy recovery

Efficiently enriching nitrous oxide (N2O) can provide a foundation for energy recovery during wastewater treatment. In this study, gas-liquid separation membranes were placed in a sequencing batch reactor fed with acidic nitrate-containing wastewater to determine the feasibility of enriching N2O by in situ separation of dissolved gases. Gas separation across the membrane (GSM) had no obvious effect on chemical oxygen demand and nitrate removal, but N2O production efficiency (NPE) increased from 11.0 % to 82.6 %. Denitrifying bacteria with low N2O yield such as Thauera, Diaphorobacter, and Flavobacterium were eliminated, and Propioniclava (46.79 %) and Candidatus_Competibacter (22.53 %) became dominant. Metagenomic sequencing showed that the abundance of the nosZ gene encoding N2O reductase decreased from 17.3 % to 6.1 %. In conclusion, GSM prevented the further reduction of N2O, eliminating denitrifying bacteria carrying the nosZ gene, which the enriched Propioniclava likely lacked. This demonstrates that GSM is an alternative strategy for N2O enrichment through nitrate denitrification.

Effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on ultrafiltration in patients with peritoneal dialysis: a protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (EMPOWERED).

Volume overload is common and associated with high mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Traditional strategies including diuretics, water/salt restriction, and icodextrin-based solutions cannot always fully correct this condition, necessitating novel alternative strategies. Recent studies confirmed the expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in the human peritoneum. Experimental data suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors decrease glucose absorption from the PD solution, thereby increasing the ultrafiltration volume. This trial aims to assess whether SGLT2 inhibitors increase the ultrafiltration volume in patients on PD. The EMPOWERED trial (trial registration: jRCTs051230081) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Patients with clinically diagnosed chronic heart failure are eligible regardless of the presence of diabetes if they use at least 3 L/day glucose-based PD solutions. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive empagliflozin 10mg once daily and then placebo or vice versa. Each treatment period will last 8weeks with a 4-week washout period. This study will recruit at least 36 randomized participants. The primary endpoint is the change in the daily ultrafiltration volume from baseline to week 8 in each intervention period. The key secondary endpoints include changes in the biomarkers of drained PD solutions, renal residual function, and anemia-related parameters. This trial aims to assess the benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors in fluid management with a novel mechanism of action in patients on PD. It will also provide insights into the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on solute transport across the peritoneal membrane and residual renal function.

From Portfolio to Platform Career

Written as a concise guide for students and working professionals, this article examines and critiques the “portfolio career” in arts professional development to offer an alternative conceptual strategy to forge a sustainable life. Eight modes of arts work are explored (performing, teaching, creating, writing, healing, manufacturing, distributing, and administering). The “Platform Career” is proposed as an extension of and possible solution to the shortcomings of the portfolio career. In the platform model, one professional activity serves as a financial base for the artist’s panoply of creative work, providing health insurance and other employment benefits plus additional financial stability to reduce financial and emotional precarity.

Blood donation and migraine relief: A national population cohort study in Denmark.

Migraine is a prevalent neurological headache disorder. Due to challenges associated with finding effective treatment, many individuals with migraine feel compelled to explore alternative treatment strategies, such as blood donation, hypothesized to provide migraine relief. Through logistic, Poisson, and Cox regression methods, we examined the links between migraine and blood donation activities in two population cohorts: Danish blood donors in the Scandinavian Donations and Transfusions Database (SCANDAT-DK, N >1 million) and the Danish Blood Donor Study (N ~ 100,000). SCANDAT-DK analyses showed no link between migraine and the propensity to become a blood donor among males (odds ratio [OR]Males = 0.95 [95% Confidence Interval: 0.86-1.04], and a reduced propensity among females ORFemales = 0.88 [0.83-0.93]). The incidence of migraine was not reduced upon blood donation (standardized incidence ratio [SIR]Males = 0.94 [0.83-1.06]; SIRFemales = 1.04 [0.99-1.10]). Donors with migraine demonstrated longer intervals between donations (hazard ratio [HR]Males = 0.87 [0.85-0.91], HRFemales = 0.80 [0.78-0.82]), and an increased risk of donor lapse (ORMales = 1.23 [1.14-1.32]; ORFemales = 1.28 [1.22-1.33]). Results were corroborated in DBDS using self-reported migraine. Genetic predisposition to migraine associated with longer intervals in females (HRFemales = 0.98 [0.97-0.99]), but not in males. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that blood donation serves as a viable treatment strategy among migraine patients. Future prospective investigations may help to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms by which blood donation may influence migraine pathology.

Novel antimicrobial peptides against Cutibacterium acnes designed by deep learning

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) requires the search for alternative therapeutic strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising avenue for the development of new treatments targeting C. acnes. In this study, to design peptides with the specific inhibitory activity against C. acnes, we employed a deep learning pipeline with generators and classifiers, using transfer learning and pretrained protein embeddings, trained on publicly available data. To enhance the training data specific to C. acnes inhibition, we constructed a phylogenetic tree. A panel of 42 novel generated linear peptides was then synthesized and experimentally evaluated for their antimicrobial selectivity and activity. Five of them demonstrated their high potency and selectivity against C. acnes with MIC of 2–4 µg/mL. Our findings highlight the potential of these designed peptides as promising candidates for anti-acne therapeutics and demonstrate the power of computational approaches for the rational design of targeted antimicrobial peptides.

Scoping an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for the southern Benguela: fisheries still biggest risk

Abstract The southern Benguela ecosystem faces complex pressures from anthropogenic activities and climate change, leading to structural and functional changes. To counter ecosystem service losses, intergovernmental marine science organizations propose integrated management. However, predictions to evaluate alternative strategies are challenging due to multifaceted sector interactions affecting ecological components. Scoping phases of Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA), such as the Options for Delivering Ecosystem-Based Marine Management (ODEMM), identify priority sectors and pressures for management using linkage chains and impact risk scores. This study expands a South African-wide ODEMM assessment to investigate dependent sectors in the southern Benguela. Fishing emerged as the primary sector, exhibiting high connectance and impact risk on ecological components. Disaggregation of the fishing sector into sub-sectors and over three 21-year time periods revealed the demersal trawl and mixed species inshore trawl sectors to still have the greatest impact despite recent mitigation efforts, driven by species extraction, bycatch, and ‘incidental loss’. Research gaps, such as the effects of recreational fisheries and underwater noise, were identified and need to be addressed to improve future ecosystem assessments. Additionally, the effects of climate on long-term, ecosystem-scale variability and change need more attention in IEAs and should be incorporated into frameworks such as ODEMM.

Social and solidarity economy and social inclusion of cooperatives in the Assin Fosu Municipality, Ghana

The social and solidarity economy (SSE) model is an alternative strategy to the neoliberal hegemonic paradigm amid global economic and political uncertainties and its associated decline in living conditions, inequalities and social exclusion. In response to these inadequacies, the study explored how cooperatives in the Assin Fosu Municipality of Ghana promote social inclusion, focusing on farm-based cooperatives. Using a mixed-method approach, quantitative data were collected from 175 randomly sampled members of six farm-based cooperatives and triangulated with qualitative data from the executives of the cooperatives who were constituted into a focus group. Data were described using descriptive statistics and the associations and effects were tested with the chi-square and binary logistic regression tools. We found that cooperatives promote social inclusion by facilitating access to productive and financial resources with members of credit-based cooperatives experiencing high social inclusion. Members with smaller households had more social status because they could engage in more social and economic activities within their communities and groupings. We recommended access to credit and productive resources and long-term birth control measures as these factors are sine qua non for high social inclusion.