Epidemiological and economic consequences of lumpy skin disease outbreaks on farm households in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

The livestock sector plays a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of millions of families across the world, especially in developing countries. However, farming households that rely on agriculture and livestock are particularly susceptible to the impacts of various infectious diseases and natural disasters. This study focuses on estimating the economic burden imposed on households by lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Pakistan and explores the effect of various socioeconomic factors on mortality ratio. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 406 farmers and were analyzed through descriptive statistics to calculate the monetary losses. In addition, the study employed fractional probit regression to identify factors affecting mortality ratio. The results demonstrate significant economic impacts of LSD on farm households in Pakistan, leading to direct and indirect losses and reduced milk productivity. Exotic cows were found to be more susceptible to mortality compared to indigenous cows. The study also found that farmers' education, experience, household income per month, vaccination, domestic-commercial, commercial animals, and access to information were negatively associated with mortality. The findings of this study emphasize the need for preventative measures such as affordable vaccines, treatment, and improved livestock health and welfare to mitigate the negative effects of LSD on farmers' income and the local economy.

Higher education institutions, SDG2 and agri-food sustainability: lessons from Chulalongkorn University and Thailand.

This paper examines higher education efforts linking United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and agri-food system sustainability given reports of stagnant movement for SDG2 in Southeast Asia and lack of data for effective monitoring or evaluation to realize the 2030 Agenda. It discusses Thai contexts amid a growing global movement in academic theory, policy and practice to mainstream SDG knowledge and implementation across campuses presenting one case to illustrate broader concerns. Chulalongkorn University policies, faculty awareness, curricula, research, sustainability reporting and partnerships about SDGs have contributed to SDG2 objectives from different disciplines and academic units. However, some faculty still lack understanding of SDGs generally while SDG2 has not been an institutional priority. The university has made welcome progress since a 2017 policy promoting SDGs but still needs to strengthen SDG2 data collection, teaching, research and community outreach capacities including links to government and international reporting to address complex agri-food system sustainability challenges. Comparative studies could also help while critically debating SDG deficiencies and promoting socioeconomic, ecological, agri-food system, community and campus sustainability.

Impaired lymphocyte development and antibody class switching and increased malignancy in a murine model of DNA ligase IV syndrome.

Hypomorphic mutations in DNA ligase IV (LIG4) cause a human syndrome of immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity, and growth retardation due to defective DNA repair by the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway. Lig4-null mice are embryonic lethal, and better mouse models are needed to study human LigIV syndrome. We recently identified a viable mouse strain with a Y288C hypomorphic mutation in the Lig4 gene. Lig4Y288C mice exhibit a greater than 10-fold reduction of LigIV activity in vivo and recapitulate the immunodeficiency and growth retardation seen in human patients. Here, we have demonstrated that the Lig4Y288C mutation leads to multiple defects in lymphocyte development and function, including impaired V(D)J recombination, peripheral lymphocyte survival and proliferation, and B cell class switch recombination. We also highlight a high incidence of thymic tumors in the Lig4Y288C mice, suggesting that wild-type LigIV protects against malignant transformation. These findings provide explanations for the complex lymphoid phenotype of human LigIV syndrome.

Serum antibodies and cytokines in C4-deficient mice and their responses to exercise.

Psychological stress is believed to be one of the predisposing factors for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whereas physical stress such as exercise has never been reported to be related. We measured the circulating levels of antibodies (IgM, IgG, anti-dsDNA IgG), Th1 (IFN-gamma), Th2 (IL-4, IL-6), and of pro-inflammatory (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-beta) cytokines of C4(-l-) female mice at rest, after acute exercise and after exercise training, using an antibody-capture ELISA. Prior to the exercise, the C4(-l-) mice had higher levels of IgG and anti-dsDNA IgG but lower levels of IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-4 than wild-type C57BL/6 (B6) mice. A single bout of exercise to exhaustion increased serum IgG, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and TGF-beta in the B6 mice but only TGF-beta in the C4(-l-) mice was increased. We conclude that exhaustive or moderate exercise has no effect on the levels of serum antibodies and cytokines and is thus unlikely to promote the onset of SLE.