Characterization of the trade in manta and devil ray gill plates in China and South‐east Asia through trader surveys

1. Dried gill plates from manta and devil rays, some of the world's most biologically vulnerable fishes, have become a valued commodity in Asian dried‐seafood and traditional Chinese medicine markets. This trade is a primary driver of fisheries, which have led to declines in many mobulid populations.
2. With no reliable trade statistics and scarce data on mobulid fisheries, this study estimates the number and species of mobulids required to supply this trade, and investigates the consumers and suppliers involved and drivers of demand. Following preliminary market research, 525 trader surveys were conducted in Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Taiwan, and southern China.
3. Guangzhou, China was identified as the centre of the trade accounting for 99% of total estimated market volume of 60.5 tons of dried gill plates in 2011, increasing to 120.5 tons by 2013. The estimated number of mobulids converted from tons of gill plates more than doubled over the period to 130 000, comprising 96% devil rays, Mobula japanica, Mobula thurstoni, and Mobula tarapacana, and 4% Manta spp. By 2015 the Guangzhou market had declined sharply, reportedly due to conservation campaigns and government policies. However Hong Kong's gill plate sales increased dramatically between 2011 and 2015.
4. China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and India were reported most frequently as gill plate sources.
5. Vendors recommend gill plates (trade name pengyusai) for ailments ranging from acne to cancer and as a general health tonic. While pengyusai is a new addition to traditional Chinese medicine literature and is rarely prescribed by traditional medicine practitioners, it is readily available over the counter and aggressively marketed by vendors.
6. Working in concert with consumer demand reduction efforts, increased measures to restrict mobulid fisheries and trade are recommended to prevent further population declines of these highly vulnerable species.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mental health in the veterinary profession: an individual or organisational focus?

The veterinary profession is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians, with attrition recognised as a substantial contributor. Research has also indicated increased levels of mental ill health and alarming suicide rates in practitioners. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of eleven modifiable workplace factors on mental health outcomes, job appreciation and intention to leave the veterinary profession. The second aim was to ascertain whether workplace factors influence mental health outcomes after controlling for individual resilience. An online survey was completed by 73 practising Australian veterinarians. Unfavourable workplace factors correlated with adverse outcomes including depression, stress, reduced job appreciation and increased likelihood of leaving both the role and the profession. Workplace factors remained linked with the outcomes of job appreciation, depression and stress whilst controlling for practitioner resilience. Job appreciation was a significant predictor of intention to leave both the current role and the profession. Via multiple linear regression, two categories were identified as associated with improved psychological outcomes and job appreciation. These were workplace factors that represent breaks from workload and control or decision latitude in the workplace. Whilst resilience represents a key area for intervention, workplace factors potentially represent an easier-to-modify area for intervention.     

Susceptibility of oat cultivars to groat discoloration: causes and remedies

Fungal isolations and fungicide efficacy trials were carried out to determine the possible causes of discoloration in oat groats and potential control measures. Alternaria species and Microdochium nivale were isolated from field samples, and Fusarium poae was found in glasshouse tests. Symptoms could be induced reliably in the field through the use of a mist irrigation system. The cultivar ‘Gerald’ was most resistant followed by ‘Jalna’. Cultivar ‘Image’ was most severely affected by discoloration and ‘Millennium’ was of intermediate susceptibility. None of the 28 fungicide‐timing combinations used in the field trials affected the occurrence of discoloured groats. It was concluded that the best strategy for minimizing risk of discoloured groats would be screening new cultivars or breeding material in mist‐irrigated field trials for genetically based resistance.     

At-sea distribution of breeding Tristan albatrosses Diomedea dabbenena and potential interactions with pelagic longline fishing in the South Atlantic Ocean

The endangered Tristan albatross Diomedea dabbenena is restricted to Gough and Inaccessible Islands. The species is killed as bycatch by longline fisheries in the South Atlantic, but the impact of this mortality is unknown. We satellite tracked 38 breeding Tristan albatrosses and assessed the seasonal and annual at-sea distribution of these birds in relation to reported pelagic longline fishing effort. These birds ranged across the South Atlantic from 50°W to 15°E with most (97%) daytime satellite fixes between latitudes 30°S and 45°S. Considerable fishing effort occurred within the same latitudes. Although there was no correlation between their at-sea distributions, there was a broad overlap between birds and fishing effort. Estimated bycatch rates for Tristan albatross and other Diomedea species in the South Atlantic, and the spatio-temporal overlap between birds and hooks, yield a predicted annual mortality of 471-554 birds, sufficient to cause population decreases of 3.6-4.3% per year. An index of bird × hook interactions (proportional density of birds multiplied by number of hooks by decadal period for each 5° square of longitude and latitude) indicated that 47% of annual interactions occurred in areas around Gough Island, and 11% and 15% of interactions in areas of the west and east Atlantic, respectively. There were also within seasonal differences in the key areas of overlap. The fishing fleets of Taiwan and Japan are likely to be responsible for most interactions based upon the reported magnitude of effort expended in the South Atlantic by these fleets. Ensuring that licensed fishing vessels within the Tristan da Cunha Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) operate using best-practise mitigation measures and with fisheries observer programs, could reduce the potential bycatch mortality of breeding Tristan albatrosses in this region by nearly one third. Thorough implementation of international agreements is required in areas of the high seas where most remaining interactions are predicted to occur.     

Chemical and physical changes in milk protein concentrate (MPC80) powder during storage

The solubility and chemical changes due to the Maillard reaction were investigated in milk protein concentrate powder containing 80% protein (MPC80) during storage at temperatures and relative humidities in the ranges of 25-40 °C and 44-84%, respectively. The Maillard reaction was studied by measuring furosine (a product of lactosylated protein after digestion with acid) and free hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) contents by HPLC and L*, a*, b* values with a color-meter. Furosine, free HMF, and browning in MPC80 increased during storage, whereas the solubility decreased. The correlation between the Maillard reaction and solubility loss was explored in modified MPC80 to which glucose was added to enhance the rate of the Maillard reaction. More furosine and brown pigments were observed in the glucose-containing MPC80 than in MPC80 with added lactose. The opposite trend occurred for solubility, suggesting that the Maillard reaction may be a cause of solubility loss in MPC powder.     

Effect of Synthetic Lysine Vasopressin on Adrenocortical Secretion

By means of direct arterial perfusion of the adrenal glands in the dog it has been shown that synthetic lysine vasopressin stimulates the secretion of hydrocortisone. This effect is not mediated via the adenohypophysis or any other organ but is rather the result of direct stimulation of the adrenal cortex by vasopressin itself.