Search

Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, with 6 % annual growth since 2010, and is becoming an increasingly important component of the world’s food production. European aquaculture has not kept up with the pace of change in other parts of the world, growing only 24 % since 1990, and only 6 % since 2007. As with all food production industries, aquaculture has a range of positive and negative impacts for the environment and the socio-economic system, which varies across production type, species, geography and biophysical context. The overall purpose of this study is to present the scientific basis of the positive and negative impacts of European aquaculture from an economic, environmental and social point of view, in order to facilitate a well-informed debate. However, the study does not seek to assess the magnitude or likelihood of impacts, compare magnitude or likelihood of impacts among different types of aquaculture nor compare the impacts identified to those of alternative food production systems. In order to achieve this aim, the project first undertook an extensive literature review to collate state-of- the-art scientific information on the positive and negative impacts of aquaculture. The study examined scientific peer-reviewed literature, supplemented by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries and European Data Collection Framework for aquaculture and focused on finfish culture (sea cages ; ponds, tanks, and raceways ; and recirculating aquaculture systems), shellfish culture (suspended, trays, and bottom culture), macroalgae and microalgae. To complement the impacts derived from the scientific literature a deeper analysis of impacts was conducted via 18 case studies across Denmark, Germany, France, Poland, Netherlands, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The case studies covered a range of production technologies and species types. The case studies were used to verify impacts identified in the scientific literature, to identify any impacts potentially overlooked by the scientific literature and to identify legislation and mitigation relevant to the aquaculture type at the national level. The case studies combined information from the literature review, supplementary scientific and grey literature of specific relevance to the case study, and key expert interviews (40 in total). Key experts consulted were primarily those from relevant national authorities and national research institutes. In parallel with the case studies, a review of the EU and national regulatory frameworks and associated mitigation measures was conducted. The review and the key expert interviews from the case studies were used to provide a preliminary analysis of the extent to which the regulatory framework mitigates negative impacts from aquaculture. The information from the literature reviews and the case studies was then collated and evaluated to provide an overview of the most important and most broadly identified positive and negative impacts for different aquaculture types. The evaluation made specific efforts to highlight consensus between the scientific literature and the opinions of key experts, as well as highlighting where these differ – indicating potential priority areas for future research.

Serotonin is an important signaling molecule in the periphery and in the brain. The hydroxylation of tryptophan is the first and rate‐limiting step of its synthesis. In most vertebrates, two enzymes have been described to catalyze this step, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) 1 and 2, with expression localized to peripheral and neuronal cells, respectively. However, animals lacking both TPH isoforms still exhibit about 10% of normal serotonin levels in the blood demanding an additional source of the monoamine. In this study, we provide evidence by the gain and loss of function approaches in in vitro and in vivo systems, including stable‐isotope tracing in mice, that phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is a third TPH in mammals. PAH contributes to serotonin levels in the blood, and may be important as a local source of serotonin in organs in which no other TPHs are expressed, such as liver and kidney.

BACKGROUND: Biallelic variations in the dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) gene cause a combined immunodeficiency with eczema, recurrent bacterial and viral infections, and malignancy. Natural disease outcome is dismal, but allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cure the disease.OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome of HSCT for DOCK8 deficiency and define possible outcome variables.METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of the results of HSCT in a large international cohort of DOCK8-deficient patients.RESULTS: We identified 81 patients from 22 centers transplanted at a median age of 9.7 years (range, 0.7-27.2 years) between 1995 and 2015. After median follow-up of 26 months (range, 3-135 months), 68 (84%) patients are alive. Severe acute (III-IV) or chronic graft versus host disease occurred in 11% and 10%, respectively. Causes of death were infections (n = 5), graft versus host disease (5), multiorgan failure (2), and preexistent lymphoma (1). Survival after matched related (n = 40) or unrelated (35) HSCT was 89% and 81%, respectively. Reduced-toxicity conditioning based on either treosulfan or reduced-dose busulfan resulted in superior survival compared with fully myeloablative busulfan-based regimens (97% vs 78%; P = .049). Ninety-six percent of patients younger than 8 years at HSCT survived, compared with 78% of those 8 years and older (P = .06). Of the 73 patients with chimerism data available, 65 (89%) had more than 90% donor T-cell chimerism at last follow-up. Not all disease manifestations responded equally well to HSCT: eczema, infections, and mollusca resolved quicker than food allergies or failure to thrive.CONCLUSIONS: HSCT is curative in most DOCK8-deficient patients, confirming this approach as the treatment of choice. HSCT using a reduced-toxicity regimen may offer the best chance for survival. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

This report describes concepts for aquaculture that can be considered for application at floating modules as being developed in the Space@Sea project. It provides an inventory of the culturing options of a range of organisms; i.e. fish, shellfish (mussels), seaweeds and microalgae. A general description is provided for state-of-the-art systems for culturing these organisms. In relation to the use of floating modules, several options are available for the positioning of culturing systems. They can be positioned on deck of the modules, placed under the models or in between them. Also “open” modules specifically designed for aquaculture could be considered. In addition, the modules could serve as an anchoring point for culture systems placed on the outside of modules. Finally, culture systems may be anchored independent, where modules are only used to deliver services, including work space. For each relevant combination of organism-culture system-position a factsheet is provided giving a short description, the main characteristics and requirements and a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis. Possible combinations are discussed and it is proposed to perform a multi-criteria analysis to select the most promising options for further elaboration with respect to the application at/with floating modules and in combination with other functions of floating islands, and combinations.

Physical exercise induces cell proliferation in the adult hippocampus in rodents. Serotonin (5-HT) and angiotensin (Ang) II are important mediators of the pro-mitotic effect of physical activity. Here, we examine precursor cells in the adult brain of mice lacking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2, and explore the effect of an acute running stimulus on neurogenesis. ACE2 metabolizes Ang II to Ang-(1-7) and is essential for the intestinal uptake of tryptophan (Trp), the 5-HT precursor. In ACE2-deficient mice, we observed a decrease in brain 5-HT levels and no increase in the number of BrdU-positive cells following exercise. Targeting the Ang II/AT1 axis by blocking the receptor, or experimentally increasing Trp/5-HT levels in the brain of ACE2-deficient mice, did not rescue the running-induced effect. Furthermore, mice lacking the Ang-(1-7) receptor, Mas, presented a normal neurogenic response to exercise. Our results identify ACE2 as a novel factor required for exercise-dependent modulation of adult neurogenesis and essential for 5-HT metabolism.