The aquaculture supply chain in the time of covid-19 pandemic: Vulnerability, resilience, solutions and priorities at the global scale.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had severe, unpredictable and synchronous impacts on all levels of perishable food supply chains (PFSC), across multiple sectors and spatial scales. Aquaculture plays a vital and rapidly expanding role in food security, in some cases overtaking wild caught fisheries in the production of high-quality animal protein in this PFSC. We performed a rapid global assessment to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related emerging control measures on the aquaculture supply chain. Socio-economic effects of the pandemic were analysed by surveying the perceptions of stakeholders, who were asked to describe potential supply-side disruption, vulnerabilities and resilience patterns along the production pipeline with four main supply chain components: a) hatchery, b) production/processing, c) distribution/logistics and d) market. We also assessed different farming strategies, comparing land- vs. sea-based systems; extensive vs. intensive methods; and with and without integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, IMTA. In addition to evaluating levels and sources of economic distress, interviewees were asked to identify mitigation solutions adopted at local / internal (i.e., farm-site) scales, and to express their preference on national / external scale mitigation measures among a set of a priori options. Survey responses identified the potential causes of disruption, ripple effects, sources of food insecurity, and socio-economic conflicts. They also pointed to various levels of mitigation strategies. The collated evidence represents a first baseline useful to address future disaster-driven responses, to reinforce the resilience of the sector and to facilitate the design reconstruction plans and mitigation measures, such as financial aid strategies.

In Vivo Brain Glutathione is Higher in Older Age and Correlates with Mobility.

Brain markers of oxidative damage increase with advancing age. In response, brain antioxidant levels may also increase with age, although this has not been well investigated. Here, we used edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify endogenous levels of glutathione (GSH, one of the most abundant brain antioxidants) in 37 young [mean: 21.8 (2.5) years; 19 female] and 23 older adults [mean: 72.8 (8.9) years; 19 female]. Accounting for age-related atrophy, we identified higher frontal and sensorimotor GSH levels for the older compared with the younger adults. For the older adults only, higher sensorimotor (but not frontal) GSH was correlated with poorer balance and gait. This suggests a regionally specific relationship between higher brain oxidative stress levels and motor performance declines with age. We suggest these findings reflect an upregulation of GSH in response to increasing brain oxidative stress with normal aging. Together, these results provide insight into age differences in brain antioxidant levels and implications for motor function.

Influence of aquaculture waste on fatty acid profiles and gonad maturation of wild fish aggregations at fish farms.

Wild fish belonging to four species belonging to different trophic groups were captured at three distances from fish farm facilities: long distance (>5 Km), medium distance (1.5 Km) and close to sea-cages. Flesh, brain, liver and gonads were sampled for fatty acid analysis. Fish aggregated near sea-cages showed accumulation of fatty acids of vegetable origin in the studied tissues, due to surplus feed consumption or via predation of fish that consumed the feed. Gonads accumulated vegetable fatty acids in different manner in the different species, and the species least and most influenced by fish-feeds were selected for gonad histological examination. Results showed an acceleration of the final stages of the oocyte development in fish aggregated near fish farms compared to fish captured at long distance. Differences in oocyte development were more acute in the species which incorporated higher quantities of vegetable fatty acids.

Fatty acids and elemental composition as biomarkers of Octopus vulgaris populations: Does origin matter?

The present study describes the novel use of fatty acids (FAs) and element profiles of Octopus vulgaris inhabiting three coastal areas in the W-Mediterranean Sea. These populations are exposed to different anthropogenic activities, and were compared at different geographical scales. The FA composition in the mantle of O. vulgaris exhibited significant differences in 22:6 n-3 (DHA) and 22:5 n-3 (EPA) among the sampled populations. The essential microelements Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni, and the non-essential microelements As, Sr, Al and Cd were the main contributors of variability among sampled octopus populations, with some notable differences among tissues. The variations in the FAs and elemental composition in octopus tissues were detected with other populations throughout the species distribution range, which might reflect differences in natural habitats and foraging strategies. Therefore, these may be considered biomarkers as a proxy to distinguish the origin of octopus specimens at different scales.

Consumption of particulate wastes derived from cage fish farming by aggregated wild fish. An experimental approach.

Particulate wastes derived from cage fish farming are a trophic resource used by wild fish. This study assesses waste consumption by wild fish and the impact on the final balance of wastes. Consumption was determined according to the difference between the particulate matter exiting the cages and that reaching 5 m away at three different depths, in the presence and absence of wild fish. Wild fish around the experimental cages were counted during feeding and non-feeding periods. A weighted abundance of 1057 fish 1000 m-3 consumed 17.75% of the particulate wastes exiting the cages, on average. Consumption was higher below the cages, where waste outflow was greater. However, waste removal by wild fish was noteworthy along the shallow and deep sides of the cages. Wild fish diminished the net particulate wastes by about 14%, transforming them into more easily dispersible and less harmful wastes. This study demonstrates the mitigating potential of wild fish in reducing environmental impact.

Particulate waste outflow from fish-farming cages. How much is uneaten feed?

Particulate wastes drive benthic organic enrichment from cage fish farming. Differentiation between faeces and uneaten feed estimates at cage level are of great value to both economize the feeding process and reduce waste. This study estimates the particulate waste outflowing cages at different depths and orientations, and the wasted feed component by combining in situ measurements and modelling. Particulate matter flux (PMF) was greater vertically through the cage bottoms (60.89%), but lateral outflow was also substantial (39.11%). PMF occurs all around the cages, and the influence of the mainstream current was low. Wasted feed was greatly variable, reaching high values (about 50% of supplied feed. The self-application of feed wastage monitoring and estimates by fish farmers is recommended to improve sustainability.

Mediterranean fouling communities assimilate the organic matter derived from coastal fish farms as a new trophic resource.

Currently, the lipid content of fish feeds includes high amounts of terrestrial vegetable oils, rich in n-6 fatty acids and poor in n-3 fatty acids. Sinking organic matter in the shape of fragmented pellets and fish faeces could be ingested by the surrounding fauna attracted to the submerged structures of aquaculture facilities or living in natural benthic habitats. Fatty acids contained in feed pellets were used as trophic markers to shed light on the assimilation and incorporation of aquaculture wastes by the invertebrate fauna associated to sea-cages. Eighteen macroinvertebrate species, and zooplankton, seaweeds and sediments were collected from two fish farms, one of which (control) had not been used as such for two years. This study demonstrates that macroinvertebrate fauna present in fouling can take up sinking organic matter from farms. Further research should be directed at assessing the potential implications of aquaculture production for the surrounding ecosystem.

Application of "taxocene surrogation" and "taxonomic sufficiency" concepts to fish farming environmental monitoring. Comparison of BOPA index versus polychaete assemblage structure.

"Taxocene surrogation" and "taxonomic sufficiency" concepts were applied to the monitoring of soft bottoms macrobenthic assemblages influenced by fish farming following two approaches. Polychaete assemblage evaluation through multivariate analysis and the benthic index BOPA were compared. Six fish farms along the Spanish Mediterranean coast were monitored. Polychaete assemblage provided a suitable picture of the impact gradient, being correlated with total free sulphides. BOPA did not support the impact gradient described by the polychaete assemblage, providing erroneous categorizations. The inclusion of several polychaete families, which were locally identified as indicative of affection to recalculate BOPA, resulted in an improved diagnosis and correlation with the impact gradient. Nevertheless, frequent misclassifications occurred. These results suggest that the structure of polychaete families, sulphides and granulometry conform an appropriate strategy for fish farming monitoring. Biotic indices need to be specifically designed for concrete activities, and regionally validated, because of the environmental plasticity of benthic invertebrates.

Nocturnal planktonic assemblages of amphipods vary due to the presence of coastal aquaculture cages.

Nocturnal pelagic swimming is common in the daily activity of peracarids in marine ecosystems. Fish farming facilities in coastal areas constitute an optimal artificial habitat for invertebrates such as amphipods, which can reach high abundance and biomass in fouling communities. Additionally, fish farms may modify the local oceanographic conditions and the distribution of pelagic communities. The aim of this study was to determine if nocturnal abundance and species composition of planktonic amphipod assemblages are affected by fish farm structures, using light traps as collecting method. A total of 809 amphipods belonging to 21 species were captured in farm areas, compared to 42 individuals and 11 species captured in control areas. The most important species contributing to the dissimilarity between farms and controls were the pelagic hyperiid Lestrigonus schizogeneios, the fouling inhabitants Ericthonius punctatus, Jassa marmorata, Stenothoe sp. and Caprella equilibra, and the soft-bottom gammarids Periculodes aequimanus and Urothoe pulchella. The great concentrations of planktonic amphipods at fish farm facilities is a result of the input of individuals from fouling communities attached to aquaculture facilities, along with the potential retention there of hyperiids normally present in the water column and migrant amphipods from soft sediments. Therefore, in addition to the effects of aquaculture on benthic communities, the presence of fish farms induces major changes in planktonic assemblages of invertebrates such as amphipods.

Discriminating farmed gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax from wild stocks through scales and otoliths.

The study of mass and standard length (L(S) ) relationships showed that farmed individuals had higher values than wild fishes for both gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. Such differences were more pronounced in larger individuals than smaller ones and were more noticeable in S. aurata than in D. labrax. Additionally, differences in external characteristics of scales were detected between origins. A high proportion of farmed S. aurata had a regenerated nucleus (98%) and scale malformations (73%), and there were no annual rings in the farmed D. labrax (100%). Variation in otolith morphology was examined through shape descriptors such as area, perimeter, circularity, roundness, mass, height and length relationship and elliptic Fourier descriptors (EFDs). Important differences were found within geographical origins according to each shape descriptor separately, but no clear patterns distinguished wild and farmed fish. Discriminant analysis with either all shape descriptors together or EFDs was able to classify with high accuracy both S. aurata (89·5-95·7%) and D. labrax (93·2-95·2%) according to their origin. Hence, this study suggests the use of scale characteristics as the easiest and quickest way to distinguish farmed or escaped fishes, and secondly, the usefulness of EFDs or shape descriptors to improve such separation.

Phylogeography and bindin evolution in Arbacia, a sea urchin genus with an unusual distribution.

Among shallow water sea urchin genera, Arbacia is the only genus that contains species found in both high and low latitudes. In order to determine the geographical origin of the genus and its history of speciation events, we constructed phylogenies based on cytochrome oxidase I and sperm bindin from all its species. Both the mitochondrial and the nuclear gene genealogies show that Arbacia originated in the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere and gave rise to three species in the eastern Pacific, which were then isolated from the Atlantic by the Isthmus of Panama. The mid-Atlantic barrier separated two additional species. The bindin data suggest that selection against hybridization is not important in the evolution of this molecule in this genus. Metz et al. in a previous publication found no evidence of selection on bindin of Arbacia and suggested that this might be due to allopatry between species, which obviated the need for species recognition. This suggestion formed the basis of the conclusion, widely spread in the literature, that the source of selection on sea urchin bindin (where it does occur) was reinforcement. However, the range of Arbacia spatuligera overlaps with that of two other species of Arbacia, and our data show that it is hybridizing with one of them. We found that even in the species that overlap geographically, there are no deviations from selective neutrality in the evolution of bindin.

Marine reserves: fish life history and ecological traits matter.

Marine reserves are assumed to protect a wide range of species from deleterious effects stemming from exploitation. However, some species, due to their ecological characteristics, may not respond positively to protection. Very little is known about the effects of life history and ecological traits (e.g., mobility, growth, and habitat) on responses of fish species to marine reserves. Using 40 data sets from 12 European marine reserves, we show that there is significant variation in the response of different species of fish to protection and that this heterogeneity can be explained, in part, by differences in their traits. Densities of targeted size-classes of commercial species were greater in protected than unprotected areas. This effect of protection increased as the maximum body size of the targeted species increased, and it was greater for species that were not obligate schoolers. However, contrary to previous theoretical findings, even mobile species with wide home ranges benefited from protection: the effect of protection was at least as strong for mobile species as it was for sedentary ones. Noncommercial bycatch and unexploited species rarely responded to protection, and when they did (in the case of unexploited bentho-pelagic species), they exhibited the opposite response: their densities were lower inside reserves. The use of marine reserves for marine conservation and fisheries management implies that they should ensure protection for a wide range of species with different life-history and ecological traits. Our results suggest this is not the case, and instead that effects vary with economic value, body size, habitat, depth range, and schooling behavior.

[Forestier-Rotes-Querol's disease. Ossification of the anterior cervical longitudinal ligament as a cause of dysphagia]. / Enfermedad de Forestier-Rotes-Querol. Osificación del ligamento longitudinal cervical anterior como causa de disfagia.

Forestier's disease or diffuse idiophatic skeletal hyperostosis is a systemic reumathological abnormality of unknown etiology. It produces calcificationossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. The low dorsal region is the most affected in the raquis. These patients are tipically asymptomatic or with few symptoms (minimal joint pain, spinal pain, stiffness). Dysphagia is the most common symptom when the disease affects the cervical spine; less frequent is dyspnea, both secondary to extrinsic compression of the esophagus and trachea. Neurological complaints are quite rare. In the 1970s Resnick described specific radiological criteria for the diagnosis of Forestier's disease that are still used today. It affects men more frequently than women (2:1); the peak occurrence is in patients in their 60s. We present two cases diagnosed by severe difficulty with deglution, a 84 years-old woman and a 54 years-old man; we operated on them for surgical decompression of the esophagus with resection of osteophytes C3-C4 and C5-C6 respectively through a conventional anterolateral neck approach. Relief of difficulty in swallowing was immediately ensued.

Enfermedad de Forestier-Rotes-Querol. Osificación del ligamento longitudinal cervical anterior como causa de disfagia / Forestier-Rotes-Querol's disease. Ossification of the anterior cervical longitudinal ligament as a cause of dysphagia

La enfermedad de Forestier-Rotes-Querol o "hiperostosis esquelética idiopática difusa" es una enfermedad reumatológica con afectación sistémica18. Consiste en la calcificación-osificación del ligamento longitudinal común anterior (LLCA), de etiología aún desconocida, sin otros cambios degenerativos. La región más frecuentemente afectada en el raquis es la región dorsal baja18,28. La mayoría de casos se mantienen asintomáticos o con mínimos síntomas como dolor articular leve y dolor de espalda25. El síntoma más común cuando está implicada la columna cervical es la disfagia; menos frecuente es la disnea, ambos síntomas secundarios a la compresión extrínseca del esófago y la tráquea. La presencia de déficits neurológicos es rara18,21,25. En la década de los 70 se definieron criterios radiológicos específicos para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Forestier que todavía hoy se emplean18,28,29,30. Predomina en varones en la década de los 60 años18,25. Presentamos en este trabajo dos casos diagnosticados por alteraciones importantes en la deglución, una mujer de 84 años y un varón de 54 años de edad; ambos fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente para la extirpación-fresado de una exostosis ósea de gran tamaño existente en C3-C4 y C5- C6, respectivamente, mediante un abordaje anterior convencional a la columna cervical; la mejoría clínica fue inmediata tras la cirugía, con resolución completa del trastorno deglutorio

Forestier's disease or diffuse idiophatic skeletal hyperostosis is a systemic reumathological abnormality of unknown etiology18. It produces calcification ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. The low dorsal region is the most affected in the raquis18,28. These patients are tipically asymptomatic or with few symptoms (minimal joint pain, spinal pain, stiffness)25. Dysphagia is the most common symptom when the disease affects the cervical spine; less frequent is dyspnea, both secondary to extrinsic compression of the esophagus and trachea. Neurological complaints are quite rare18,21,25. In the 1970s Resnick described specific radiological criteria for the diagnosis of Forestier's disease that are still used today18,28,29,30. It affects men more frequently than women (2:1); the peak occurrence is in patients in their 60s18,25. We present two cases diagnosed by severe difficulty with deglution, a 84 years-old woman and a 54 years-old man; we operated on them for surgical decompression of the esophagus with resection of osteophytes C3-C4 and C5-C6 respectively through a conventional anterolateral neck approach. Relief of difficulty in swallowing was immediately ensued

Changes in amphipod (Crustacea) assemblages associated with shallow-water algal habitats invaded by Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea in the western Mediterranean Sea.

The effects of the invasive species Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea (hereafter C. racemosa) on amphipod assemblages associated with shallow-water rocky habitats were studied. Two habitats located along the SE Iberian Peninsula were compared; invaded and non-invaded. The results showed that growth of C. racemosa affects habitat structure, influencing the species composition and biomass of macroalgae, and detritus accumulation. In turn, such changes in habitat features affected the associated amphipod assemblages with different ecological requirements. However, the species richness of amphipods was relatively high in both habitats, while the species composition of amphipods changed completely. For example, some species such as Ampithoe ramondi and Hyale schmidti did not colonize invaded habitats, while others such as Apocorophium acutum were favoured by the spread of C. racemosa. Habitat invasion by C. racemosa can have an important influence on biotic assemblages, modifying both habitat structure and the associated fauna, with unknown effects on the overall ecosystem.

Delayed intracerebral hemorrhage after ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. Case report and literature review.

We present another case of delayed intracerebral hemorrhage after a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting procedure. In this case, a right occipital intraparenchymal hematoma and associated intraventricular hemorrhage occurred six days after the operation for hydrocephalus secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage in a 64 year old woman. It is a rare complication of VP shunting, with few cases reported previously in the literature. The presumed mechanism is the erosion of a cerebral blood vessel secondary to a close contact with the ventricular catheter; bleeding disorder, vascular malformation, head trauma or brain tumor were excluded in this patient.

Delayed intracerebral hemorrhage after ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. Case report and literature review

We present another case of delayed intracerebralhemorrhage after a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shuntingprocedure. In this case, a right occipital intraparenchymalhematoma and associated intraventricularhemorrhage occurred six days after the operation forhydrocephalus secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhagein a 64 year old woman. It is a rare complication of VPshunting, with few cases reported previously in the literature.The presumed mechanism is the erosion of acerebral blood vessel secondary to a close contact withthe ventricular catheter; bleeding disorder, vascularmalformation, head trauma or brain tumor were excludedin this patient

Presentamos un caso de hemorragia intracerebraltardía tras la colocación de una derivación ventriculoperitoneal.Una paciente de 64 años de edad, con hidrocefaliasecundaria a una hemorragia subaracnoidea,sufre una hemorragia intraparenquimatosa occipitalderecha con hemorragia intraventricular secundariaseis días después de la intervención quirúrgica.Se trata de una complicación rara de la derivaciónventriculoperitoneal, con pocos casos publicados anteriormente.El mecanismo supuesto es la erosión de unvaso sanguíneo secundaria a un íntimo contacto con elcatéter proximal de la derivación; trastornos sanguíneos,malformaciones vasculares cerebrales, traumatismocraneal o tumor cerebral fueron excluidos en estapaciente

[Prolonged clinical pattern of brain death in patients under barbiturate sedation: usefulness of transcranial Doppler]. / Patrón clínico de muerte cerebral prolongado en paciente bajo sedación barbitúrica: utilidad del Doppler transcraneal.

INTRODUCTION: Throughout the world, is fully accepted that a person is dead when brain death exists. In most situations, neurological criteria permit the diagnosis of brain death, but in some instances, as when high-dose barbiturate therapy has been used, confirmatory testing are required by law. CLINICAL CASE: We report the case of a 17 year-old women who suffered high-dose barbiturate therapy due to post traumatic intracranial hypertension. During the period of the barbiturate infusion and until six days after the suppression of this therapy, neurological exploration and EEG findings seem to confirm brain death, while transcranial Doppler (TCD) study remained normal. CONCLUSIONS: TCD is a fast, simple and accurate confirmatory testing in the determination of brain death and its findings are not affected by high-dose barbiturate therapy. We think that TCD must be present in all hospitals where mechanical ventilation and support of patients are carried out.

Patrón clínico de muerte cerebral prolongado en paciente bajo sedación barbitúrica: utilidad del Doppler transcraneal / Prolonged clinical pattern of brain death in patients under barbiturate sedation: usefulness of transcranial Doppler

INTRODUCCIÓN: La muerte cerebral se define como el cese irreversible de todas las funciones encefálicas, y equivale legal y biológicamente a la muerte del individuo. Aunque la exploración clínica permite establecer este diagnóstico la mayoría de las veces, en algunas situaciones, como cuando se han utilizado barbitúricos a altas dosis, puede ser necesario recurrir a técnicas complementarias. CASO CLÍNICO: Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 17 años en la que se instauró tratamiento barbitúrico a altas dosis como control de hipertensión endocraneal (HEC). Mientras la paciente recibía este tratamiento y también hasta varios días después de suspenderlo, la exploración clínica y el EEG eran compatibles con muerte encefálica, mientras que el estudio Doppler transcraneal descartaba esta posibilidad, pues demostraba que el flujo sanguíneo cerebral era normal. La paciente recuperó la función cerebral, clínica y eléctrica, 6 días después de la suspensión de los barbitúricos, y en la actualidad deambula de manera autónoma. CONCLUSIONES: El Doppler transcraneal es una prueba rápida, sencilla y muy específica en el diagnóstico de la muerte encefálica, y sus resultados no se modifican por la utilización de sustancias depresoras del sistema nervioso central. Por este motivo debería considerarse una técnica complementaria de adquisición obligada en todos los centros hospitalarios que participen en programas de donación de órganos. (AU)

[Leiomyosarcoma of the paranasal sinuses with intracranial involvement: report of a clinical case and review of the literature]. / Leiomiosarcoma de senos paranasales con extensión intracraneal: presentación de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura.

We describe a 53 year old man with a two months history of frontal headache and right visual loss, with complete right blindness at the moment of diagnosis. Neither nasal obstruction nor endocrine symptoms were found. Computerized Tomography showed a neoplasm involving both paranasal sinuses and sellar region, with bilateral orbital extension. The patient underwent a bifrontal craniotomy with apparent complete excision. Histopathologic examination proved smooth muscle cells sarcoma (leiomyosarcoma). Clinical evolution was unfavorable, with rapid local recurrence. The patient died of cerebellar metastasis 4 months after the initial diagnosis and treatment. Leiomyosarcoma of the sinonasal tract is an unusual tumor, and we have found only 63 cases previously reported. The most frequent clinical presentation is nasal obstruction. Surgery is the treatment of choice, as far as radiotherapy or chemotherapy do not appear to slow disease progression. No relationship has been found between the aggressiveness of leiomyosarcoma of the sinonasal tract and morphologic parameters; instead, prognosis is dependent on the distribution of disease at clinical onset. Leiomyosarcoma of the sinonasal tract may be regarded as a locally aggressive neoplasm with only limited metastatic potential.