Early Life Stages Research Articles

YENİYETMƏLƏRİN SOSİALLAŞMASINDA AİLƏ MÜHİTİNİN ROLU

Socialization Arrangement Features of the Family Environment for Teenagers Summary Definite role of family is conditioned by the deep influence of the growing man on all physical and spiritual life complexes. It is important for a child to live and be brought up. In the early stages of the child's life, the impact of the family is superior to other educational influences. Success in shaping personality is conditioned primarily by family. They should form such qualities in the family, so it is difficult to form them outside the family. The family carries out the process of socialization of personality. This should be a generalized expression of the family's efforts on physical, moral and educational upbringing. The family should ensure that traditions are inherited. Key words: socialization of adolescents, family education, harmonic development of the child, self-identification of personality, family model

Drivers of moth phenology in England and Wales

AbstractClimate change has led to changes in the phenology of Lepidoptera species. While phenological shifts have been previously measured for moth species in England and Wales, the drivers of these shifts are not well known. Here, we use data from the National Moth Recording Scheme and the Garden Moth Scheme to investigate the drivers of phenology in 149 moth species over a 50 year period from 1970 to 2019. We investigate whether there have been phenological shifts in adult emergence using three phenology metrics: First Emergence (FE), Peak Emergence (PE), and Emergence Standard Deviation (ESD) in relation to life history traits and temperature. Overwintering stage had a significant impact on moth phenology, so we analysed species that spend the winter as eggs, larvae or pupae separately. Overall phenological changes were different depending on overwintering stage category and phenological measure, with the rate of phenological shifts increasing with later overwintering life stages in response to both temperature and year. The overwintering stage larva was the only one impacted by diet, with those that feed on woody hostplants emerging ~ 17 days later than species with herbaceous hostplants. These results indicate that species that either overwinter in earlier life stages or have woody hostplants may be less adaptable to climate change, and thus should be the targets of conservation efforts.

Exploring Prenatal Exposure to Halogenated Compounds and Its Relationship with Birth Outcomes Using Nontarget Analysis.

Halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) are a class of contaminants showing high toxicity, low biodegradability, and high bioaccumulation potential, especially chlorinated and brominated HOCs (Cl/Br-HOCs). Knowledge gaps exist on whether novel Cl/Br-HOCs could penetrate the placental barrier and cause adverse birth outcomes. Herein, 326 cord blood samples were collected in a hospital in Jinan, Shandong Province from February 2017 to January 2022, and 44 Cl/Br-HOCs were identified with communicating confidence level above 4 based on a nontarget approach, covering veterinary drugs, pesticides, and their transformation products, pharmaceutical and personal care products, disinfection byproducts, and so on. To our knowledge, the presence of closantel, bromoxynil, 4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichloroisophthalonitrile, 2,6-dibromo-4-nitrophenol, and related components in cord blood samples was reported for the first time. Both multiple linear regression (MLR) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to evaluate the relationships of newborn birth outcomes (birth weight, length, and ponderal index) with individual Cl/Br-HOC and Cl/Br-HOCs mixture exposure, respectively. A significantly negative association was observed between pentachlorophenol exposure and newborn birth length, but the significance vanished after the false discovery rate correction. The BKMR analysis showed that Cl/Br-HOCs mixture exposure was significantly associated with reduced newborn birth length, indicating higher risks of fetal growth restriction. Our findings offer an overview of Cl/Br-HOCs exposome during the early life stage and enhance the understanding of its exposure risks.

NRPS-like ATRR in Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Involved in Glycine Betaine Metabolism to Promote Parasitism

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are among the most serious phytopathogens and cause widespread and serious damage in major crops. In this study, using a genome mining method, we identified nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-like enzymes in genomes of plant-parasitic nematodes, which are conserved with two consecutive reducing domains at the N-terminus (A-T-R1-R2) and homologous to fungal NRPS-like ATRR. We experimentally investigated the roles of the NRPS-like enzyme (MiATRR) in nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) parasitism. Heterologous expression of Miatrr in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can overcome the growth inhibition caused by high concentrations of glycine betaine. RT-qPCR detection shows that Miatrr is significantly upregulated at the early parasitic life stage (J2s in plants) of M. incognita. Host-derived Miatrr RNA interference (RNAi) in Arabidopsis thaliana can significantly decrease the number of galls and egg masses of M. incognita, as well as retard development and reduce the body size of the nematode. Although exogenous glycine betaine and choline have no obvious impact on the survival of free-living M. incognita J2s (pre-parasitic J2s), they impact the performance of the nematode in planta, especially in Miatrr-RNAi plants. Following application of exogenous glycine betaine and choline in the rhizosphere soil of A. thaliana, the numbers of galls and egg masses were obviously reduced by glycine betaine but increased by choline. Based on the knowledge about the function of fungal NRPS-like ATRR and the roles of glycine betaine in host plants and nematodes, we suggest that MiATRR is involved in nematode–plant interaction by acting as a glycine betaine reductase, converting glycine betaine to choline. This may be a universal strategy in plant-parasitic nematodes utilizing NRPS-like ATRR to promote their parasitism on host plants.

Determinants of Financial Literacy

The objective of this article was to analyze the factors that determine the level of financial literacy in Mexican adults, the method used for the analysis was an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model. The results reveal that age, marital status, education, number of dependents and income level in the central and southern regions were positively associated with the financial literacy index; while men and having a job were negatively associated. One of the limitations of the study lies in the number of observations regarding some variables considered. The originality of the work consists in the fact that evidence is provided considering the characteristics at the individual level for Mexico. The findings obtained can be useful for the design of public policies as well as serve as a basis for subsequent studies.
  
 Objective: The objective of conducting an investigation into the literality of financing may be to fully understand the specific provisions and clauses of financial contracts. This may include analyzing the terms and conditions set forth in loan agreements, lines of credit or other forms of financing to fully understand the obligations and responsibilities of the parties involved.
  
 Theoretical Framework: Various proposals have been developed to measure financial literacy/inclusion (BANAMEX, 2018; Dabla-Norris et al., 2015; OECD, 2018) however, in this work the methodology developed by OECD (2018) is used, said methodology can be adapted to the situation of each country. The ENIF 2018 incorporates questions that cover aspects of financial knowledge, behaviors and attitudes in adults from 18 to 70 years of age, where the maximum score obtained is seven, nine and five points for each aspect respectively, which gives a total of 21 points. The index is built from the sum of the points obtained in each aspect.
  
 Method: This sum is normalized to 100 to facilitate its interpretation (CNBV, 2019); a higher value implies greater financial literacy and a lower value the opposite. Context of financial education in Mexico The CNBV (2019) indicates that the financial literacy index for Mexico was located at a rating of 58.2 points; when broken down by components, it indicates that "financial knowledge" was located at 65.8 and
  
 Results and conclusion: Current Level of Financial Literacy: The level of financial literacy in Mexico has been determined to be relatively low, with a large proportion of the population lacking basic knowledge of financial issues.  Impact on Financial Well-being: It has been shown that there is a direct correlation between the level of financial literacy and the economic well-being of individuals, highlighting the importance of improving education in this area to boost financial development and reduce economic insecurity. Demographic Gaps: Certain demographic groups, such as low-income people, youth and women, have been identified as facing greater challenges in terms of financial literacy, underscoring the need to adopt inclusive and targeted approaches to address these disparities. Importance of Financial Education: The relevance of promoting financial education programs from the early stages of life has been highlighted, both in the educational system and through community initiatives, to equip people with the necessary skills to make responsible financial decisions. and prepare them to face future economic challenges.
  
 Resarch implications: Awareness of the Importance of the Topic: Conducting research on financial literacy involves recognizing the critical relevance of this topic in today's society. This means understanding how a lack of financial literacy can negatively impact the lives of individuals and communities in terms of economic well-being, access to opportunities, and the ability to make informed decisions. Understanding the Causes and Consequences: The researcher must delve into the underlying causes of the lack of financial literacy, as well as the possible short- and long-term consequences for individuals and society as a whole. This involves analyzing factors such as access to financial education, the quality of the education received, socioeconomic and cultural barriers, among others. Identification of Areas of Improvement: Research can reveal specific areas where improvements are needed in terms of public policies, educational programs, financial services, and business practices. This may include recommendations to develop stronger school curricula, implement financial awareness campaigns, improve the accessibility of financial services, and promote transparency and accountability in the financial industry. Developing Innovative Solutions: By understanding the needs and challenges related to financial literacy, researchers can contribute to the development of innovative and effective solutions. This could involve creating interactive educational tools, designing training programs tailored to different demographic groups, or implementing financial technologies (fintech) that facilitate access to financial services and making informed decisions. Fostering Dialogue and Collaboration: Research can serve as a basis to foster dialogue between different actors, including government institutions, nonprofit organizations, private companies, academics, and civil society. This can lead to strategic collaborations and coordinated actions to address financial literacy challenges more effectively and sustainably.
  
 Originality/vulue: Awareness of the Importance of the Topic: Conducting research on financial literacy involves recognizing the critical relevance of this topic in today's society. This means understanding how a lack of financial literacy can negatively impact the lives of individuals and communities in terms of economic well-being, access to opportunities, and the ability to make informed decisions. Understanding the Causes and Consequences: The researcher must delve into the underlying causes of the lack of financial literacy, as well as the possible short- and long-term consequences for individuals and society as a whole. This involves analyzing factors such as access to financial education, the quality of the education received, socioeconomic and cultural barriers, among others. Identification of Areas of Improvement: Research can reveal specific areas where improvements are needed in terms of public policies, educational programs, financial services, and business practices. This may include recommendations to develop stronger school curricula, implement financial awareness campaigns, improve the accessibility of financial services, and promote transparency and accountability in the financial industry. Developing Innovative Solutions: By understanding the needs and challenges related to financial literacy, researchers can contribute to the development of innovative and effective solutions. This could involve creating interactive educational tools, designing training programs tailored to different demographic groups, or implementing financial technologies (fintech) that facilitate access to financial services and making informed decisions. Fostering Dialogue and Collaboration: Research can serve as a basis to foster dialogue between different actors, including government institutions, nonprofit organizations, private companies, academics, and civil society. This can lead to strategic collaborations and coordinated actions to address financial literacy challenges more effectively and sustainably.

Larval trophic ecology of small pelagic fishes: a review of recent advances and pathways to fill remaining knowledge gaps

Early life stages constitute a bottleneck for most fish populations, particularly for small pelagic fish (SPF), for which the interannual variability in recruitment strength is very high, and recruits frequently constitute the bulk of the population biomass. Finding the right prey (in terms of size and quality) during these early stages is critical for recruitment success. In this work, we synthesize the available literature on the trophic ecology of the early life stages of SPF, particularly clupeiforms. Works published during the last decade (2013-2022, 37 papers) were compared to those published previously (1920-2012, 107 papers). Gut content analysis of field-caught larvae is still the most commonly used technique (44%), while the use of biomarkers (e.g. stable isotopes and fatty acid composition), molecular tools (e.g. metabarcoding) and multitrophic approaches has increased in the last decade. Significant new knowledge was gained recently, such as that on larval feeding rates and behavior through laboratory experiments for species kept in culture (e.g. Atlantic herring, Pacific and Atlantic sardines), but some old challenges remain, such as the high vacuity rates of field-caught larvae. Lastly, we provide recommendations for future studies, such as the use of complementary techniques, the importance of studying ontogenetic shifts, the use of metabarcoding for analyzing the diet of early larvae that depend on microplankton, and the identification of prey with high taxonomic resolution. Such studies are essential to better understand larval growth and survival at sea, and thus to better understand and predict SPF population dynamics.

Anomalous ocean currents and European anchovy dispersal in the Iberian ecosystem

Unlike other upwelling areas where sardine and anchovy species dominate the pelagic ecosystems, the Western Iberian ecosystem has been consistently dominated by European sardine Engraulis encrasicolus, while anchovy had a residual presence from the start of acoustic surveys, in 1989, to 2014. Since 2015, the abundance of anchovy in the Western Iberian margins has sharply increased and continues to show an increasing trend as of 2023. It is unclear if this increase is a result of dispersal from nearby recruitment areas, higher survival rates of early life stages due to favorable environmental conditions, or both. We used a set of different models to simulate the dispersion and survival of anchovy early life stages in the Iberian region for the years preceding the increase in anchovy abundance. An ocean model simulation with the model CROCO provided the fields used as background for Lagrangian simulations coupled to an individual-based model of anchovy eggs and larvae. We simulated the years 2013-2015, and the results show that in 2014 and 2015, anomalous upper-ocean circulation patterns with strong and persistent eastward currents transported a large number of eggs and larvae from the Bay of Biscay (BoB) eastward along the Northern Iberian margin. The maximum transport occurred in June and July 2015, when 8 and 4%, respectively, of the eggs spawned in the BoB potentially reached the Iberian west coast as larvae. This process might explain the increase in anchovy abundance in the Western Iberian ecosystem. The results of the study show that episodes of anomalous intense ocean currents, when coincident with high presence of eggs, can lead to the colonization of new areas, and connectivity between areas varies dramatically with time.

MENKES DISEASE: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND CLINICAL CASE

Menkes Kinky Hair Disease (MKHD) is characterized by an abnormality in copper metabolism caused by a mutation in the ATP7A gene, which is located on Xq13.3 and has 23 exons. In addition, this gene encodes 1500 amino acids and is expressed in large quantities in various organs. It’s worth mentioning that about 357 diff erent mutations have been identifi ed in the ATP7A gene. It is a relatively rare disease with an incidence of 1 case per 100,000 to 250,000 live births. MKHD is an X-linked recessive trait that almost exclusively aff ects boys.The diagnosis of this rare disease is based on the genetic- molecular study of a metabolic disease panel, including the ATP7A gene and the biochemical phenotype (a decrease in serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels).In developing therapeutic strategies for individuals with Menkes disease, three fundamental problems are being addressed: 1) unlocking the absorption of copper in the intestine; 2) making copper available to enzymes in cells that require it as a cofactor; and 3) identifying infants with Menkes disease and initiating treatment at a very early stage of life, before irreversible neurodegeneration occurs. This article presents a clinical case of Menkes disease in a 7-month-old boy. The diagnosis was confi rmed by molecular genetic testing (NGS) of the Neurometabolic Disorders Panel, which included the ATP7A gene and biochemical phenotype.  The described case illustrates the complexity of diagnosing Menkes disease in the neonatal period due to the non-specifi city of disease symptoms (lethargy, weak sucking, weight loss, etc.) and the importance of biochemical and molecular genetic methods of fetal investigation in subsequent pregnancies or in a newborn sibling for early diagnosis and treatment. This case will be published with the consent of the mother in accordance with bioethical principles.

Effects of Cheliped Amputation on the Personality of Crayfish.

Animal personality, which describes inter-individual differences and intra-individual consistency in behaviors across time and contexts, has been widely observed and has significance for both ecology and evolution. Morphological modifications, particularly during early life stages, may highly influence animal behavior in adulthood; thus, exploring this relationship can elucidate personality development throughout ontogeny. In this study, we reared juvenile crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) with different degrees of cheliped mutilation and explored their personality patterns, including exploration and aggression, when they reached sexual maturity. Male crayfish showed repeatability in exploration, and both sexes showed repeatability in aggression. We observed no significant correlation between the two behavioral traits, indicating the absence of behavioral syndromes. Moreover, exploration did not differ according to the type of mutilation, but crayfish with more intact chelipeds were more aggressive, and males were more aggressive than females. These results indicate that cheliped mutilation may modify the average levels of personality traits associated with competition or self-defense. Our study provides insights into how morphological modifications may shape animal personalities in adulthood.

Analysis of SIRT1 genetic variants in young Mexican individuals: relationships with overweight and obesity

The high prevalence of obesity in Mexico starting from the early stages of life is concerning and represents a major public health problem. Genetic association studies have reported that single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that plays an important role in the regulation of metabolic cellular functions, are associated with multiple metabolic disorders and the risk of obesity. In the present study, we analyzed the effect that the SNVs rs1467568 and rs7895833 of the SIRT1 gene may have on cardiometabolic risk factors in a young adult population from Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out with young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 18.5 kg/m2. This study included 1122 young adults who were classified into the normal weight (n = 731), overweight group (n = 277), and obesity group (n = 114) according to BMI of whom 405 and 404 volunteers were genotyped for rs1467568 and rs7895833 respectively using TaqMan probes through allelic discrimination assays. We found that the male sex carrying the G allele of rs7895833 had slightly lower BMI levels (p = 0.009). Furthermore, subjects carrying rs1467568 (G allele) showed a 34% lower probability of presenting with hyperbetalipoproteinemia where female carrying rs1467568 had lower levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.030), triglycerides (p = 0.026) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.013). In conclusion, these findings suggest that the presence of both SNVs could have a non-risk effect against dyslipidemia in the Mexican population.

Essential oils mix effect on chicks ileal and caecal microbiota modulation: a metagenomics sequencing approach

IntroductionMicrobiota plays a pivotal role in promoting the health and wellbeing of poultry. Essential oils (EOs) serve as an alternative solution for modulating poultry microbiota. This study aimed to investigate, using amplicon sequencing, the effect of a complex and well-defined combination of EOs feed supplement on both ileal and caecal broiler microbiota, within the context of Salmonella and Campylobacter intestinal colonization.Material and methodsFor this experiment, 150-day-old Ross chicks were randomly allocated to two groups: T+ (feed supplementation with EO mix 500 g/t) and T– (non-supplemented). At day 7, 30 birds from each group were orally inoculated with 106 CFU/bird of a Salmonella enteritidis and transferred to the second room, forming the following groups: TS+ (30 challenged birds receiving infeed EO mix at 500g/t) and TS– (30 challenged birds receiving a non-supplemented control feed). At day 14, the remaining birds in the first room were orally inoculated with 103 CFU/bird of two strains of Campylobacter jejuni, resulting in the formation of groups T+C+ and T–C+. Birds were sacrificed at day 7, D10, D14, D17, and D21. Ileal and caecal microbiota samples were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. At D7 and D14, ileal alpha diversity was higher for treated birds (p <0.05).Results and discussionNo significant differences between groups were observed in caecal alpha diversity (p>0.05). The ileal beta diversity exhibited differences between groups at D7 (p < 0.008), D10 (p = 0.029), D14 (p= 0.001) and D17 (p= 0.018), but not at D21 (p = 0.54). For all time points, the analysis indicated that 6 biomarkers were negatively impacted, while 10 biomarkers were positively impacted. Sellimonas and Weissella returned the lowest (negative) and highest (positive) coefficient, respectively. At each time point, treatments influenced caecal microbiota beta diversity (p < 0.001); 31 genera were associated with T+: 10 Ruminoccocaceae genera were alternatively more abundant and less abundant from D7, 7 Lachnospiraceae genera were alternatively more and less abundant from D10, 6 Oscillospiraceae genera were variable depending on the date and 4 Enterobacteriaceae differed from D7. During all the experiment, Campylobacter decreased in treated birds (p < 0.05). This study showed that EO mix modulates ileal and caecal microbiota composition both before and during challenge conditions, increasing alpha diversity, especially in ileum during the early stages of chick life.

On the probable distribution of stock-recruitment resilience of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Abstract Determining how resilient a stock-recruitment relationship is to environmental variation is crucial for fisheries management. Steepness is a key factor characterizing the resilience of a fish stock and, hence, for establishing management reference points. This study estimates the distribution of steepness for Pacific saury using a simulation approach based on evolutionary ecology and reproductive biology, and how it changes in response to environmental change. The median estimated steepness is 0.82 (80% probable range 0.59, 0.93) based on the best available biological information, which suggests that Pacific saury can produce a relatively high proportion of unfished recruitment when depleted to 20% of unfished spawning biomass. Elasticity analysis indicates that steepness for Pacific saury is most sensitive to the survival rate of early life stages, mean body weight, growth, and length-at-maturity. Environmental change could substantially impact steepness, with unfavorable conditions related to survival rates, length-at-maturity, mean body weight, and growth potentially leading to a reduction in resilience. Understanding these impacts is crucial for the assessment and management of Pacific saury. Our numerical simulation approach provides an analytical tool applicable for calculating the steepness distribution in other small pelagic fish influenced by increases in sea surface temperature due to global warming.

Projected ocean temperatures impair key proteins used in vision of octopus hatchlings.

Global warming is one of the most significant and widespread effects of climate change. While early life stages are particularly vulnerable to increasing temperatures, little is known about the molecular processes that underpin their capacity to adapt to temperature change during early development. Using a quantitative proteomics approach, we investigated the effects of thermal stress on octopus embryos. We exposed Octopus berrima embryos to different temperature treatments (control 19°C, current summer temperature 22°C, or future projected summer temperature 25°C) until hatching. By comparing their protein expression levels, we found that future projected temperatures significantly reduced levels of key eye proteins such as S-crystallin and retinol dehydrogenase 12, suggesting the embryonic octopuses had impaired vision at elevated temperature. We also found that this was coupled with a cellular stress response that included a significant elevation of proteins involved in molecular chaperoning and redox regulation. Energy resources were also redirected away from non-essential processes such as growth and digestion. These findings, taken together with the high embryonic mortality observed under the highest temperature, identify critical physiological functions of embryonic octopuses that may be impaired under future warming conditions. Our findings demonstrate the severity of the thermal impacts on the early life stages of octopuses as demonstrated by quantitative proteome changes that affect vision, protein chaperoning, redox regulation and energy metabolism as critical physiological functions that underlie the responses to thermal stress.

Failure analysis of an AISI 310 stainless steel beam reinforcement fracture during service in a rolling beam furnace

This work investigated the premature failure of a beam reinforcement made of austenitic stainless steel AISI 310 used in the entrance of a rolling beam furnace working continuously at cycles from 650 to 850 °C. Fracture surface and microstructural investigations allowed to identify the fracture mechanism as fatigue failure. The fracture was probably initiated at the oxidized grain boundaries at an early stage of service life, when no microstructure degradation was present, while most of the fatigue crack propagation occurred after the precipitation of secondary phases. The microstructure investigation revealed severe microstructure degradation with the presence of intermetallic sigma (σ) phase (area fraction = 19 %) and M23C6 carbides (area fraction = 1 %), which were formed during the high-temperature exposure. Cracking of σ phases and decohesion at σ /austenite matrix interfaces were observed near the fracture and in the small punch test samples. Such discontinuities provide an easy path for crack propagation.

Flow-through imaging and automated analysis of oil-exposed early stage Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Toxicology studies in early fish life stages serve an important function in measuring the impact of potentially harmful substances, such as crude oil, on marine life. Morphometric analysis of larvae can reveal the effects of such substances in retarding growth and development. These studies are labour intensive and time consuming, typically resulting in only a small number of samples being considered. An automated system for imaging and measurement of experimental animals, using flow-through imaging and an artificial neural network to allow faster sampling of more individuals, has been described previously and used in toxicity experiments. This study compares the performance of the automated imaging and analysis system with traditional microscopy techniques in measuring biologically relevant endpoints using two oil treatments as positive controls. We demonstrate that while the automated system typically underestimates morphometric measurements relative to analysis of manual microscopy images, it shows similar statistical results to the manual method when comparing treatments across most endpoints. It allows for many more individual specimens to be sampled in a shorter time period, reducing labour requirements and improving statistical power in such studies, and is non-invasive allowing for repeated sampling of the same population.

Estradiol-17β and bisphenol A affect growth and mineralization in early life stages of seabass

Natural and synthetic estrogens are contaminants present in aquatic ecosystems. They can have significant consequences on the estrogen-sensitive functions of organisms, including skeletal development and growth of vertebrate larvae. Synthetic polyphenols represent a group of environmental xenoestrogens capable of binding the receptors for the natural hormone estradiol-17β (E2). To better understand how (xeno-)estrogens can affect the skeleton in fish species with high ecological and commercial interest, 16 days post-hatch larvae of the seabass were experimentally exposed for 7 days to E2 and Bisphenol A (BPA), both used at the regulatory concentration of surface water quality (E2: 0.4 ng.L−1, BPA: 1.6 μg.L−1) or at a concentration 100 times higher. Skeletal mineralization levels were evaluated using Alizarin red staining, and expression of several genes playing key roles in growth, skeletogenesis and estrogen signaling pathways was assessed by qPCR. Our results show that E2 exerts an overall negative effect on skeletal mineralization at the environmental concentration of 0.4 ng.L−1, correlated with an increase in the expression of genes associated only with osteoblast bone cells. Both BPA exposures inhibited mineralization with less severe effects and modified bone homeostasis by regulating the expression of gene encoding osteoblasts and osteoclasts markers. Our results demonstrate that environmental E2 exposure inhibits larval growth and has an additional inhibitory effect on skeleton mineralization while both BPA exposures have marginal inhibitory effect on skeletal mineralization. All exposures have significant effects on transcriptional levels of genes involved in the skeletal development of seabass larvae.

Identification and characterization of a novel strain of Decapod hepanhamaparvovirus in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) from Madagascar that does not cause histological lesions

Decapod hepanhamaparvovirus (DHPV) is a single-stranded DNA virus that primarily affects the early life stages of penaeid shrimp, potentially leading to significant losses in hatchery operations. In an interesting finding, we observed that a small portion Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) originating from Madagascar harbored DHPV even in the absence of any discernible clinical signs. Detailed histopathological analysis of P. monodon post-larvae individuals revealed an absence of distinctive histological lesions typically associated with DHPV infection. However, sensitive molecular techniques, including PCR and real-time PCR and reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) confirmed the presence of viral DNA and DHPV encoded transcripts in these specimens. The complete genome sequence of this newfound viral isolate, spanning 6254 nucleotides, showed a 96.9% nucleotide sequence similarity to a previously documented DHPV strain also originating from Madagascar. Moreover, it exhibited a genetic resemblance of 80.7% to 88.2% when compared to DHPV strains from other geographical regions. These findings underscore the unique genomic and histological characteristics of this novel DHPV isolate. This knowledge proves to be of paramount significance for the screening of broodstock and post-larvae in captive breeding programs, as it aids in identifying the presence of DHPV. Furthermore, it paves the way for future investigations into unraveling the precise role of viral-encoded proteins in shaping the clinical and histological manifestations of DHPV infections.

Larval fish community in the Bay of Whales (eastern Ross sea): Species composition, relative abundance and spatial distribution

Early life stages of fish represent a key component in the food chain of the pelagic ecosystem of the Southern Ocean, connecting producer trophic levels to those of higher predators. Pelagic larvae and early juveniles of notothenioid fishes overwhelmingly dominate the ichthyoplankton community living on the continental shelf. Scientific research surveys targeting early life stages of fish in the pelagic realm have been mainly carried out in the western Ross Sea, whereas the eastern side can be considered unexplored. As source of high primary production, the presence and timing of formation of wide ice-free areas throughout the year in the Ross Sea play a fundamental role in structuring larval fish community. The Ross Ice Shelf Polynya (RISP) is a large coastal polynya, which is driven and maintained by local prevailing winds and oceanic currents. In the present study, we report the first data on species composition, relative abundance and spatial distribution of larval fish community found off the Bay of Whales in the eastern Ross Sea. As reported for other areas of the Ross Sea, the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum was by far the most abundant species, followed by other nototheniids and channichthyids in smaller amounts. The huge abundance of P. antarcticum early larvae supports the hypothesis of a potential nursery area near the Bay of Whales. Present results strongly advocate for future investigations in these poorly known and remote areas.

Exposure to acifluorfen induces developmental toxicity in the early life stage of zebrafish

Acifluorfen, a selective herbicide from the diphenyl ether family, targets broad leaf weeds. Diphenyl ether inhibits chlorophyll production in green plants by inhibiting protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO), causing cellular damage. Despite its known impacts on plants, the influence of acifluorfen on zebrafish embryo development remains unclear. In this study, we explored the LC50 of acifluorfen in early-stage wild-type zebrafish, determining it to be 54.99 mg/L. Subsequent examinations revealed morphological changes in zebrafish, including reduced body length. Using the cmlc2:dsRED transgenic model, we observed heart dysfunction in acifluorfen-exposed zebrafish, marked by an enlarged heart area, edema, and decreased heart rate. In response to dose-dependent acifluorfen exposure, the inhibition of angiogenesis in the brain was observed in transgenic zebrafish models (fli1a:eGFP). Organ malformations, specifically in the liver and pancreas, were noted, in lfabp:dsRED;elastase:eGFP transgenic models, indicating reduced organ size in acifluorfen-exposed zebrafish. Furthermore, acifluorfen heightened the expression of apoptosis-related genes (casp8, casp9, and tp53) in zebrafish embryos. We then determined whether acifluorfen affected the viability of zebrafish liver (ZFL) cells based on its effects on liver development in vivo. The results indicated that the proliferation of ZFL cells decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, acifluorfen-treated ZFL cells exhibited a slight increase in apoptotic cells stained with annexin V and propidium iodide. In summary, these findings establish a baseline concentration for acifluorfen's effects on aquatic ecosystems and non-target organisms.

Early life stage exposure to fenbuconazole causes multigenerational cardiac developmental defects in zebrafish and potential reasons

Early life stage exposure to fenbuconazole causes multigenerational cardiac developmental defects in zebrafish and potential reasons