Small-Scale Shrimp Grower–Collector Relationships: The Case of Thua Thien Hue Province,Central Vietnam

Small-scale shrimp-culture is an important livelihood for rural residents in Thua Thien Hue (TTH) province, central Vietnam. However, they are facing the risk of exclusion from the food system due to globalization and trade liberalization. To keep these farmers in modern supply chains, their relationships with other chain actors, foremost the collectors, need to be improved. Thus, this study explores the characteristics and constructs of the relationships between the small-scale shrimp growers and their collectors. Data was based on a survey on 83 small-scale shrimp growers, together with 16 unstructured interviews with growers (10) and collectors (6). It was revealed that the relationships between small-scale shrimp growers and collectors in TTH province are short-term and price-driven and are influenced by the power of collectors. The relationship strength was measured by five intercorrelated constructs including reliability, willingness-to-maintain, desire-fulfilment, negotiation capacity, and discussion capacity. Although some constructs were positively correlated, the strength of the relationships was weak. Both business linkages and social connections affected the grower-collector relationships. Female traders had stronger relationships with collectors than males. Therefore, interventions should be focused on business and social linkages as well as females’ involvement in shrimp trade.     

Inhibitory activities of soluble and bound millet seed phenolics on free radicals and reactive oxygen species

Oxidative stress, caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is responsible for modulating several pathological conditions and aging. Soluble and bound phenolic extracts of commonly consumed millets, namely, kodo, finger (Ravi), finger (local), foxtail, proso, little, and pearl, were investigated for their phenolic content and inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ROS, namely, hydroxyl radical, peroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). Inhibition of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals was detrmined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The peroxyl radical inhibitory activity was measured using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The scavenging of H(2)O(2), HOCl, and (1)O(2) was evaluated using colorimetric methods. The results were expressed as micromoles of ferulic acid equivalents (FAE) per gram of grain on a dry weight basis. In addition, major hydroxycinnamic acids were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC-mass spectrometry (MS). All millet varieties displayed effective radical and ROS inhibition activities, which generally positively correlated with phenolic contents, except for hydroxyl radical. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of ferulic and p-coumaric acids as major hydroxycinnamic acids in phenolic extract and responsible for the observed effects. Bound extracts of millet contributed 38-99% to ROS scavenging, depending on the variety and the test system employed. Hence, bound phenolics must be included in the evaluation of the antioxidant activity of millets and other cereals.     

Persistence of the carrier status in haemorrhagic septicaemia (pasteurella multocida serotype 6:B infection) in Buffaloes

Summary Fifty-seven young buffaloes were experimentally infected or naturally exposed to haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS). Of these animals 32 became immune carriers. They were observed in groups for periods up to 360 days to monitor the appearance of pasteurellae in the nasopharynx and antibody status. In most animals pasteurellae appeared in the nasopharynx for a short period initially and disappeared. The organism reappeared intermittently and the longest observed period of reappearance was 215 days after exposure. All animals showed rising antibody titres with a peak lasting for 150 to 180 days and declining thereafter. Pasteurellae persisted in the tonsils and were isolated from 20 out of 27 carriers after slaughter. The longest period when isolation was made after slaughter was 229 days. The organism lodged in the tonsils was unaffected by antibacterial therapy using drugs to which the organism displayedin vitro sensitivity. It is concluded that in HS, carrier animals exist in an active as well as a latent state, the former appearing for short intermittent periods between long latent periods, when pasteurellae continue to remain in the tonsils which constitute a long-term reservoir.

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Persistencia Del Estado De Portador De Septicemia Hemorragica (Infeccion ConPasteurella Multocida Serotipo 6:B) Bufalos

Resumen Cincuenta y siete búfalos jóvenes fueron infectados experimentalmente o expuestos naturalmente a septicemia hemorrágica (SH). Treinta y dos de estos animales se volvieron portadores inmunes. Los búfalos fueron observados en grupos por períodos de hasta 360 días, para detectar la aparición de la pasteurela en la nasofaringe y de anticuerpos. En la mayoría de los animales la pasteurela apareció en la nasofaringe por un período inicial corto y desapareció. El organismo reapareció intermitentemente y el período más largo observado fue 215 días después de la exposición. Todos los animales tuvieron un aumento de anticuerpos, con un pico que duró de 150 a 180 días, declinando después. La pasteurela persistió en las tonsilas y fue aislada en 20 de 27 portadores después del sacrificio. El período más largo de aislamiento, después del sacrificio, fue de 229 días. El organismo alojado en las tonsilas, no fue afectado por terapia antibacterial, utilizando drogas a las cuales la bacteria fue sensitivain vitro. Se concluye que en SH, los animales portadores existen en estado activo y latente, apareciendo el primero por períodos intermitentes cortos, entre largos períodos latentes, cuando pasteurela se aloja en las tonsilas, las cuales constituyen un reservario permanente.

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Persistance De La Situation De Porteur Chez Des Buffles Atteints De Septicemie Hemorragique APasteurella Multocida, Serotype 6:B

Résumé Cinquante sept jeunes buffles ont été infectés expérimentalement ou naturellement exposés à la septicémie hémorragique (HS). Parmi eux, 32 sont devenus des porteurs immuns. Ils ont été suivis par groupes pendant des périodes allant jusqu'à 360 jours pour déceler l'apparition de pasteurelles dans le nasopharynx et caractériser leurs taux d'anticorps. Chez la plupart des animaux, les pasteurelles sont apparues dans le nasopharynx pendant une courte période initiale puis ont disparu mais elles sont réapparues par intermittence et la période de présence la plus longue a été de 215 jours après le contact infectieux. Tous les animaux ont relevé des titres croissants d'anticorps avec un pic d'une durée de 150 à 180 jours suivi d'un déclin ultérieur. Les pasteurelles ont persisté dans les amygdales et ont été isolées sur 20 des 27 porteurs aprés abatage. La période la plus longue pendant laquelle l'isolement a pu être réalisé après abattage a été de 229 jours. L'organisme hébergé dans les amygdales a résisté a une thérapie antibactérienne avec des médicaments auxquels il se révélait sensiblein vitro. En conclusion, dans la septicémie hémorragique, il reste des porteurs actifs aussi bien que latents. Les premiers apparaissent par intermittence pendant des épisodes de courte durée, entre de longues périodes de latence, alors que les pasteurelles restent présentes dans les amygdales. Celles-ci jouent de ce fait le rôle d'un réservoir à long terme.

     

Impact of foot-and-mouth disease on pork and chicken prices in Central Luzon,Philippines

Central Luzon is the number one pig-producing region in the Philippines and was affected by Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) in 1995. In this paper, the impact of FMD on the Central Luzon meat market from 1995 to 1999 was examined. Employing the error correction model (ECM) and historical decomposition, the impact of FMD on the Central Luzon pork and chicken meat market was quantified. The following findings were observed: (a) pig farm and pork wholesale prices dropped 11.8% and 15.7%, respectively, after the initial FMD outbreaks in January, 1995; (b) in February, 1995, chicken farm and wholesale prices declined by 21.1% and 14.2%, respectively (while chicken retail prices also went down by 10.5%); (c) the margins of pig and chicken traders were also adversely affected at some point; and (d) FMD caused changes of dynamic interdependence among prices by meat type at different levels of the meat supply chain.     

Influence of soil water content and soil amendments on trace metal release and seedling growth in serpentine soil

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study was conducted to evaluate the synergistic effects of organic amendments and soil water status on trace metal release from serpentine soil. Two organic...