Understanding dried fish value chain and marketing strategy during COVID-19 pandemic: a case study from Thailand

Dried fish contribute to the food and nutrition security of many people globally, especially in Asia and Africa. It also signifies cultural identity, tied to shared histories, tastes, and practices. Dried fish production and marketing provide livelihoods and income to small-scale fishers and their families, as well as women in coastal communities, many of whom are involved in the processing of dried fish products. The production of dried fish helps minimize fish losses and enhances the post-harvest value chain. Little is known, however, about the importance of dried fish, and the challenges facing actors in the dried fish value chain. The thesis is based on a scoping study of the dried fish value chain conducted in Thailand, as part of the Dried Fish Matters project, funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. As one of the world’s major seafood producers and exporters, Thailand offers an interesting case study, especially in terms of governance, given the new fishing regulations, enacted in response to the ‘yellow card’ warning issued by the European Union to address issues and compliance with international standards to combat illegal fishing. The overall goal of the study was to understand the importance of the dried fish value chain and its governance, as well as the issues and opportunities related to access to resources and markets, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has disrupted the flow of fish and seafood products in Thailand. At the same time, it has opened opportunities for dried fish vendors and processors through emerging e-commerce – an online marketing and trade. E-commerce has helped address some of the fish value chain challenges and provided livelihood, income and access to affordable food source during the COVID-19 restriction. Dried fish production can be done in a large-scale, modernized factory or in a traditional, small-scale operation. Raw materials also come from both large-scale and small-scale fisheries. For the purpose of this study, the focus is on small-scale fisheries and rudimentary production of four dried fish products, i.e. dried anchovies, dried squid, dried shrimp, and ‘kapi’, a paste made from Acetes shrimp, commonly used in Thai cooking. These products are consumed mostly in Thailand, but a good proportion of dried anchovies is also destined for the export markets. Some dried fish producers buy raw materials from fishers, while others have their own boat. Local women are often hired to work on turning raw materials into dried products, which mostly involves boiling and sun-drying. Dried fish products are sold in local markets, as well as transported to city centers for further packaging and value-added process. Concerns about raw materials for dried fish production are related to overfishing and regulations. The Royal Ordinance on Fisheries aims to address both problems, restricting the use of certain fishing gears, which are considered unsustainable. For instance, the use of light luring devices in anchovy fisheries has been banned, along with push netting due to bycatch concerns and habitat destruction issues. There is an ongoing debate, however, about the suitability of the regulations, especially since some of them affect small-scale fisheries more than large-scale fisheries. More research is required to investigate the impact of the new regulations on small-scale fisheries and on fisheries sustainability, broadly speaking. On a whole, dried fish play a key role in Thai society, as part of the staple food and as main source of income for the communities. Yet, there is still a need to raise awareness about the nutritional value of dried fish and promote its consumption, which can be done through E-commerce. The research findings show, however, that dried fish online vendors face several challenges including decreased income, the uncertainty of product availability, transportation, and competition from supermarkets. Understanding the dried fish value chain is important given its potential contribution to food and nutrition security, livelihoods, and income, especially to small-scale fishers and coastal communities

Dynamic Behavior in Enzyme-Polymer Surfactant Hydrogel Films

Dynamic protein-polymer surfactant films are highly hydrophilic and show a soft solid to hydrogel transition upon hydration to produce a swollen hydrogel. An unusual reversible autospreading/self-folding response is observed when the water-saturated films are transferred from water into air

Pengaruh Kupedes / Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) Dan Kredit Mikro Utama (KMU) Terhadap Return On Assets Pada Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk

Mochamad Wildan Almine - NPM : A10119009 ; Di bawah bimbingan : Cecep Taufiqurrohman, SE., MM., Ak.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh Kupedes / Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) dan Kredit Mikro Utama (KMU) terhadap Return on Assets (ROA) pada PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero), Tbk periode 2008-2014 Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif dan verifikatif. Data penelitian ini merupakan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari laporan keuangan perusahaan periode 2008-2014. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linier sederhana, analisis korelasi pearson, koefisien determinasi, analisis asumsi klasik, dan uji hipotesis parsial Hasil penelitian menunjukan secara parsial Kredit Usaha Rakyat dan Kredit Mikro Utama / Kupedes memiliki hubungan positif dan signifikan terhadap Return On Assets. Nilai Adjusted R Square sebesar 0,783 menunjukan bahwa Kredit Usaha Rakyat dan Kredit Mikro Utama / Kupedes memiliki pengaruh sebesar 78,3% terhadap Return On Assets

Camouflage and interception:How pathogens evade detection by intracellular nucleic acid sensors

Intracellular DNA and RNA sensors play a vital part in the innate immune response to viruses and other intracellular pathogens, causing the secretion of type I interferons, cytokines and chemokines from infected cells. Pathogen RNA can be detected by retinoic-acid inducible gene I-like receptors in the cytosol, whereas cytosolic DNA is recognized by DNA sensors such as cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS). The resulting local immune response, which is initiated within hours of infection, is able to eliminate many pathogens before they are able to establish an infection in the host. For this reason, all viruses, and some intracellular bacteria and protozoa, need to evade detection by nucleic acid sensors. Immune evasion strategies include the sequestration and modification of nucleic acids, and the inhibition or degradation of host factors involved in innate immune signalling. Large DNA viruses, such as herpesviruses, often use multiple viral proteins to inhibit signalling cascades at several different points; for instance herpes simplex virus 1 targets both DNA sensors cGAS and interferon-γ-inducible protein 16, as well as the adaptor protein STING (stimulator of interferon genes) and other signalling factors in the pathway. Viruses with a small genome encode only a few immunomodulatory proteins, but these are often multifunctional, such as the NS1 protein from influenza A virus, which inhibits RNA sensing in multiple ways. Intracellular bacteria and protozoa can also be detected by nucleic acid sensors. However, as the type I interferon response is not always beneficial for the host under these circumstances, some bacteria subvert, rather than evade, these signalling cascades for their own gain

Coloration de la robe chez le bovin Etude fonctionnelle de l’allèle (si) du gène SILVER/PMEL17 chez la race Charolaise

The search of genetic markers that could be used as authentication tools for cattle breeds tractability, has allowed our team UMR1061 the identification of a genetic marker for the Charolais breed. This genetic marker corresponds to si (Dc) allele of SILVER/PMEL17 gene whose the product plays a relevant role in the melanosome biogenesis. Otherwise, this allele is genetically associated with creamy white phenotype of the Charolais breed. Since the mutation affects the signal peptide, we have hypothesized that Pmel17 produced by the si allele is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum and does not contribute to the melanosome maturation. In order to provide functional evidence concerning si allele, both in situ and in vitro experiments were performed. The in situ approach allowed us to demonstrate a partial retention of the protein Pmel17 Charolais within ER and its failure to reach the melanosome stage II and therefore the repeal of melanosome biogenesis. The in vitro approach that we have developed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae allowed us to consolidate the results obtained in situ.Dans le cadre des travaux de recherche de marqueurs génétiques utilisables comme outils d’authentification de l’origine raciale des bovins, l’équipe coloration de l’UMR1061 a mis en évidence un marqueur génétique de la race Charolaise. Il s’agit de l’allèle si (Dc) du gène SILVER/PMEL17, acteur crucial de la biogenèse du mélanosome. Le phénotype blanc crémeux que cet allèle confère à la robe du bovin Charolais serait la conséquence d’une perte de fonction de la protéine Silver/Pmel17. Celle-ci serait retenue dans le réticulum endoplasmique (RE) suite à l’inhibition exercée par la mutation si sur le clivage de son peptide signal. Dans l’objectif d’apporter des preuves fonctionnelles relatives à l'allèle Charolais du gène SILVER/PMEL17, nous avons entrepris des approches in situ et in vitro. La démarche in situ nous a permis de démontrer la rétention partielle de la protéine Pmel17 Charolaise au niveau du RE ainsi que le défaut de son adressage au mélanosome de stade II et donc l’abrogation de la biogenèse du mélanosome chez les individus Charolais. La démarche in vitro nous a permis de valider le modèle Saccharomyces cerevisiae comme système d’expression de la protéine Silver/Pmel17 et de conforter les données relatives aux approches in situ