Herbal plants for mental disorders in Sri Lanka

Xia & He Publishing Inc.

Mental disorders, often referred to as psychiatric disorders or mental illnesses, are characterized by disturbances in cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior. Factors such as genetics, environment, and psychological influences play a key role in the onset and development of these disorders, which include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and neurodevelopmental conditions. According to a 2019 survey by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, around 970 million people globally, or one in every eight individuals, were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression being the most common types.

While modern medicine has made significant advances, the use of herbal medicines continues to be relevant due to their perceived efficacy, fewer side effects, accessibility, and cultural significance. Particularly in Sri Lanka, the Ayurvedic system of medicine has incorporated herbal plants for centuries to treat mental disorders. Herbal remedies are often sought either as alternatives or adjunct therapies to conventional treatments due to their synergistic effects. This review focuses on identifying and analyzing the therapeutic potential of 24 traditional medicinal plants used in Sri Lanka, emphasizing their phytochemicals, mechanisms of action, and benefits in treating mental disorders​.

The Role of Ayurveda in Mental Health Management

Sri Lanka, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to over 1,200 medicinal plant species, 174 of which are unique to the island. Ayurvedic practices in Sri Lanka have traditionally relied on these plants for both physical and mental health treatments. The growing concern about mental health in Sri Lanka is mirrored in the increasing number of patients seeking treatment for conditions such as anxiety disorders (4.53%), depression (30.44%), bipolar disorder (5.2%), schizophrenia (7.72%), and disruptive behavior disorders (1.73%).

Key Ayurvedic herbs like Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica, Withania somnifera, and Valeriana wallichii have long been used to treat mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. Other plants, including Ginkgo biloba, Hypericum perforatum, and Rhodiola rosea, are utilized to address bipolar disorder, disruptive behavior, and schizophrenia. Despite their extensive traditional use, many herbal plants’ therapeutic mechanisms, particularly for more complex mental disorders, remain insufficiently explored​.

Methodology and Data Collection

The data for this review were gathered from traditional Ayurvedic texts such as "Medicinal Plants Used in Ceylon," "Atlas of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants," and "Sinhala Waidya Widya," housed at the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine at the University of Colombo and the Pallekale Provincial Ayurvedic Hospital in Kandy, Sri Lanka. These texts served as foundational resources for systematically identifying 24 medicinal plants with a history of treating mental disorders. The review examined the scientific names, plant parts used, their distribution within Sri Lanka, pharmacological properties, and the phytochemicals identified in these plants. Additionally, a literature review from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from 2001 to 2023 was conducted to enhance the understanding of these plants and their therapeutic potential​.

Phytochemicals and Their Mechanisms of Action

Phytochemicals found in traditional medicinal plants have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, making them valuable in treating mental disorders. For example, trigonelline from Abrus precatorius seeds has demonstrated antioxidant activities that may help reduce oxidative stress and enhance cognitive function, potentially protecting against neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, bacosides from Bacopa monnieri regulate neurotransmitter levels and provide both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help alleviate anxiety and depression.

Other notable compounds include asiaticoside and asiatic acid from Centella asiatica, which have exhibited antidepressant, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective activities by regulating neurotransmitter function and reducing brain inflammation. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside from Eclipta alba and quercetin from Ginkgo biloba have similar effects, influencing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are central to mood regulation​.

Shogaol, a compound found in the rhizome of Zingiber officinale (ginger), has stress-reduction properties, protecting brain cells from oxidative damage and promoting relaxation. These bioactive phytochemicals have demonstrated promise in treating conditions ranging from depression and anxiety to more complex neurodegenerative diseases.

Ayurvedic Polyherbal Formulations: Their Benefits and Challenges

In Ayurvedic practice, polyherbal formulations that combine different plant parts—leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds—are commonly used due to the biochemical diversity inherent in each part. This allows for a wider therapeutic range and a lower incidence of toxicity compared to conventional pharmaceuticals. For instance, plants such as Abrus precatorius, Asparagus falcatus, Eclipta prostrata, and Foeniculum vulgare are used together in Ayurvedic blends to treat mental health conditions, particularly in polyherbal preparations targeting disorders like ‘Olmada sanni’​.

However, despite their widespread use, there are challenges associated with these formulations. Issues such as contamination during storage, the difficulty of removing harmful metals, and insufficient scientific validation of these plants' efficacy and safety profiles need to be addressed. Moreover, certain plants may induce toxicity in various organs, making rigorous scientific investigation and standardization crucial to their continued use​.

Conclusions

The review of herbal plants used in Sri Lanka’s Ayurvedic system for treating mental disorders highlights the significant therapeutic potential of these remedies, particularly due to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties of their phytochemicals. While compounds such as trigonelline, bacosides, asiaticoside, asiatic acid, and quercetin show promise in treating disorders like anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases, further research is required to validate their clinical effectiveness​.

Preserving these traditional remedies and integrating them into modern clinical practice requires extensive scientific research to isolate and standardize bioactive compounds. The current review of 24 medicinal plants provides a valuable starting point, but future studies should explore a broader range of species and more in-depth evaluations of their mechanisms of action. Establishing their safety and efficacy will be crucial in addressing the growing global burden of mental health disorders.

 

Full text:

https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2835-6357/FIM-2024-00024

 

The study was recently published in the Future Integrative Medicine.

Future Integrative Medicine (FIM) publishes both basic and clinical research, including but not limited to randomized controlled trials, intervention studies, cohort studies, observational studies, qualitative and mixed method studies, animal studies, and systematic reviews.

 

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Journal

Future Integrative Medicine

DOI

10.14218/FIM.2024.00024 

Article Title

Herbal Plants for Mental Disorders in Sri Lanka

 

Workplace culture and social relationships are associated with workplace bullying

University of Eastern Finland

Workplace bullying poses a serious threat to employees’ health and well-being. Conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, a recent study sheds new light on the impact of social relationships on workplace bullying. Focusing on the dynamics of social relationships, the study shows how workplace culture, interaction and social relationships play a role in bullying. Workplace bullying is a complex phenomenon where the bully can be a colleague, a supervisor, a workplace clique or even the entire work community.

“Our research draws attention to the fact that workplace bullying is not solely caused by individual characteristics but is also significantly associated with power dynamics at the workplace, as well as with individuals’ opportunities to receive support in situations of bullying,” notes Pasi Hirvonen, a University Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of Eastern Finland.

The study is based on personal accounts of workplace bullying published on online discussion forums dedicated to sharing experiences of workplace bullying. In total, 136 accounts of workplace bullying were analysed, detailing how the bullying started, how it was handled within the work community and how the situation ended.

The results reinforce previous findings about the long-term effects of workplace bullying on individual well-being and organisational functioning.

Work community is a key player in workplace bullying

The study employed the so-called positioning theory, which focuses on how rights, duties and responsibilities related to workplace bullying are constructed and how they are discussed and negotiated in everyday interactions. A similar perspective has been rarely used in previous research.

In the accounts of workplace bullying, individuals who had experienced bullying described how they were positioned differently in relation to their work community. A significant role in workplace bullying was played not only by the bullied and the bullies, but also by the entire work community and external parties, such as occupational health care providers and occupational safety and health authorities.

“Individuals who had experienced workplace bullying described it as a situation where they either lost their health and ability to work, or they perceived bullying to be passively accepted by the work community. Bullying was also described as an unresolved conflict, or as a situation employees had managed to survive it thanks to their own, active opposition. However, such accounts of survival were extremely rare.”

Supervisors play a crucial role in addressing bullying

According to the study, supervisors play a crucial role in addressing bullying. Supervisors who handle bullying situations openly and fairly can prevent them from escalating further. In contrast, ignoring bullying, remaining silent about it and passively accepting it often jeopardises the bullied individual’s possibilities to remain in the workplace.

“The accounts of bullying we have analysed often describe how isolated and powerless the bullied individual feels in the situation, with hardly any opportunities for fair handling of the matter in their work community, or even knowledge of what to do in the situation,” says Pekka Kuusela, a University Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of Eastern Finland.

Storyline-based examination of positioning, i.e., how individuals are positioned in relation to each other, shifts the focus from individual characteristics to power dynamics and interactions between employees, offering a different perspective on workplace bullying.

“To understand how to best handle situations of bullying, future research should also examine narratives from work communities where workplace bullying has been addressed successfully,” the researchers say.

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Journal

SAGE Open

DOI

10.1177/21582440241264729 

Article Title

Struggle Over Rights and Duties at Work: Storylines and Discursive Self-Other Positioning in Workplace Bullying Stories.

 

APA Poll: Future of nation, economy and presidential election top U.S. stressors

Most U.S. adults concerned about political violence, end of democracy

American Psychological Association

 

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Concerns commonly cited by U.S. adults

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Credit: American Psychological Association / The Harris Poll

WASHINGTON — More than 7 in 10 adults said the future of the nation (77%) is a significant source of stress in their lives, with the economy (73%) and the 2024 U.S. presidential election (69%) following closely behind, according to the latest Stress in America™ survey released today by the American Psychological Association. 

At the same time, the poll found many common stressors among people with different political party affiliations. The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA among more than 3,000 U.S. adults age 18+ between Aug. 1 and 23, 2024. 

Compared with the previous two U.S. presidential elections, stress related to the election was similar to 2020 (69% vs. 68%) but significantly higher than in 2016 (52%). What sets the 2024 poll apart from previous APA election surveys is the collective stress about the potential fallout from the election results: More than 7 in 10 adults (72%) said they are worried the election results could lead to violence, and more than half of adults (56%) said they believed the 2024 presidential election could be the end of democracy in the U.S. Meanwhile, around a third of adults (32%) said the political climate has caused strain among themselves and their family members, with (30%) who said they limit their time with family because they don’t share the same values. 

“For nearly a decade, people have faced a political climate that is highly charged, which has led to the erosion of civil discourse and strained our relationships with our friends and our families. But isolating ourselves from our communities is a recipe for adding more stress to our lives,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “We must remember that the most extreme voices are often the loudest, and that the majority of adults share similar values and concerns.” 

Stress in America™ 2024: A Nation in Political Turmoil reveals a country where trust has been shaken in the government and in each other. Most adults (54%) reported they have very little to no trust in the U.S. government, and 41% of adults reported the state of the nation has made them consider moving to a different country. Half of adults (50%) said tension around social and political topics makes them less likely to want to connect with other people and around 3 in 10 (28%) said they have nothing in common with people who have different political opinions than they do. More than 2 in 5 adults (46%) wouldn’t date someone who didn’t share the same political opinions (47% of women said this, and 45% of men).  

Yet the survey showed commonalities regardless of political party affiliation, with the future of the nation being the stressor that was most commonly rated as significant by Republicans (80%), Democrats (79%) and independents (73%). Further, Republicans, Democrats and independents agreed that the country’s system of checks and balances isn’t working (76% of Republicans, 71% of Democrats and 74% of independents). They also reported being stressed that politicians aren’t talking about the things that are most important to them (62%, 58% and 60%, respectively), and that the political climate has caused strain between them and their family members (32%, 35% and 32%, respectively). 

Mis- and disinformation have dialed up the volume on stress, as many adults (73%) reported it is stressful to know how real fake information can look or seem. A strong majority (82%) of U.S. adults were worried that people may be basing their values and opinions on false or inaccurate information. 

Despite the pervasive stress about the nation’s future and the fear of violence, this year’s survey showcased how participants are using the political climate as a springboard for activism and driving positive change.  More than three-quarters of adults (77%) said they intend to vote in the presidential election, and half of adults (51%) said they feel more compelled to volunteer or support causes they value — significantly higher than the 45% who said so in 2019 during the lead up to the 2020 presidential election. Diverse communities in particular are being moved to act; 73% of Black adults and 67% of Latino/a/e adults reported feeling that their vote matters.  

In addition, 3 in 5 adults reported feeling hopeful about the change this election will bring (61%), and that this election will lead to a more inclusive society (59%). More than 2 in 5 adults (42%) said they haven’t felt this excited about an election in years. Significantly, although Black and Latino/a/e groups and those who identify as LGBTQ reported personal safety as a major stressor (47%, 47% and 50%, respectively), they have remained optimistic; 64% of Black and Latino/a/e adults reported feeling hopeful that the election could mean a more inclusive future. 

 “Stress surrounding the upcoming election seems overwhelming. But despite concerns about a nation divided across cultural identities and political parties, it’s encouraging that hope could be the catalyst, where people can come together and have a stake in deciding their future,” said Evans. “We see people’s desire for positive change as an opportunity to channel our collective stress into meaningful conversations and actions that promote healing and understanding.” 

For more information on the survey findings and helpful resources on how to handle stress, go to www.stressinamerica.org. 
  
METHODOLOGY 

The 2024 Stress in America™ survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association between Aug. 1–23, 2024, among 3,305 adults ages 18+ who reside in the U.S. that serves as a nationally representative sample. In addition to the national sample, oversamples were collected to allow for subgroup analysis within race/ethnicity groups. Sample sizes across the national and oversamples are as follows: 801 Black, 855 Hispanic and 804 Asian. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. Throughout the report, mentions of political parties are defined by those who self-identify as registered voters of the Democratic, Republican, or independent party. A full methodology is available. 

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA’s membership includes over 157,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives. 

 

Tire-wear particles pose health risks to aquatic organisms

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

 

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TWP leachate disrupts intestinal homeostasis through TLR4/MyD88/NF-ĸBsignaling pathway, thereby inducing liver inflammation

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Credit: Hangzhou Normal University

In a study published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, researchers from Hangzhou Normal University uncovered the adverse health effects of tire-wear particles (TWPs) on aquatic organisms. The study, led by Zhiquan Liu, focused on the hepatotoxicity of TWP leachates, revealing significant impacts on the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels in test organisms.

“TWPs, primarily produced through tire-road friction, are released into the environment in vast quantities,” says Liu. “Each year, approximately 6.1 million tons of TWPs are estimated to enter aquatic ecosystems, posing a significant threat to biodiversity.”

This prompted the researchers to investigate the effects of TWP leachates on black-spotted frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus), a highly susceptible amphibian species.

“We found that TWP leachates induced hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and histopathology changes in the frogs. Specifically, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of signaling pathways closely related to immunity were observed,” shares Liu.

These changes were accompanied by disruptions in the gut microbiota, with a notable increase in Proteobacteria, a major source of gut-derived endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Such disruptions in the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels can lead to long-term health issues for affected organisms.

The team also found that zinc, a trace metal commonly found in TWP leachates, accumulated in the intestine, liver and kidney of the test frogs, further confirming the absorption and bioaccumulation of TWP leachates by aquatic organisms.

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Contact the author: Zhiquan Liu liuzhiquan1024@163.com

The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 100 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

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Journal

Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

DOI

10.1016/j.enceco.2024.08.004 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Tire-wear particle leachate at environmentally relevant concentrations exert a hepatotoxic impact on the black-spotted frog by disrupting the gut–liver axis

 

Microplastics and PFAS – Combined risk and greater environmental harm

University of Birmingham

The combined impact of so-called ‘forever chemicals’ is more harmful to the environment than single chemicals in isolation, a new study shows.  

Researchers at the University of Birmingham investigated the environmental effects of microplastics and PFAS and showed that, combined, they can be very harmful to aquatic life.  

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that come from plastic bottles, packaging, and clothing fibres. PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a group of chemicals used in everyday items like non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, firefighting foams, and numerous industrial products. PFAS and microplastic are known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily and can build up in the environment, leading to potential risks for both wildlife and humans. 

Both PFAS and microplastics can be transported through water systems on long distances, all the way to the Arctic. They are often released together from consumer products. Yet, their combined effects, and also the ways in which they interact with other polluting compounds in the environment, remain poorly understood. 

To better understand the combined impact of these pollutants, researchers used Daphnia, commonly known as water fleas. These tiny creatures are often used to monitor pollution levels because they are highly sensitive to chemicals, making them ideal for determining safe chemical limits in the environment.  

In this study, published in Environmental Pollution, the team compared two groups of water fleas: one that had never been exposed to chemicals and another that had experienced chemical pollution in the past. This unique approach was possible thanks to Daphnia's ability to remain dormant for long periods, allowing researchers to "resurrect" older populations with different pollution histories. 

Both groups of Daphnia were exposed for their entire life cycle to a mixture of microplastics of irregular shapes - reflecting natural conditions- together with two PFAS chemicals at levels typically found in lakes.  

The team showed that PFAS and microplastics together caused more severe toxic effects than each chemical alone. The most worrying result was developmental failures, observed together with delayed sexual maturity and stunted growth. When combined, the chemicals caused Daphnia to abort their eggs and to produce fewer offspring. These effects were more severe in Daphnia historically exposed to pollutants, making them less tolerant to the tested forever chemicals.  

Importantly, the study found that the two chemicals lead to greater harm when combined – 59% additive and 41% synergistic interactions were observed across critical fitness traits, such as survival, reproduction and growth.  

Lead researcher Professor Luisa Orsini emphasized the importance of the findings: “Understanding the chronic, long-term effects of chemical mixtures is crucial, especially when considering that previous exposures to other chemicals and environmental threats may weaken organisms' ability to tolerate novel chemical pollution.  

“Our research paves the way for future studies on how PFAS chemicals affect gene function, providing crucial insights into their long-term biological impacts. These findings will be relevant not only to aquatic species but also to humans, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that address the unintended combinations of pollutants in the environment. Regulating chemical mixtures is a critical challenge for protecting our water systems."

Dr Mohamed Abdallah, co-leading the research, said: “Current regulatory frameworks focus on testing the toxicity of individual chemicals, mostly using acute (short) exposure approaches. It is imperative that we investigate the combined impacts of pollutants on wildlife throughout their lifecycle to get better understanding of the risk posed by these pollutants under real-life conditions. This is crucial to drive conservation efforts and inform policy on facing the growing threat of emerging contaminants such as forever chemicals.” 

Novel tools in chemical and biological screening with advances in artificial intelligence mean that we can understand the complex interactions among chemicals in the environment. Revising current methods for assessing environmental toxicity is therefore not only possible but imperative.” 

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Journal

Environmental Pollution

DOI

10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125133 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Combined toxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances and microplastics on the sentinel species Daphnia magna: Implications for freshwater ecosystems

Article Publication Date

19-Oct-2024

Plastic mulch is contaminating agricultural fields

PNAS Nexus

 

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Plastic removal.

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Credit: Seeta Sistla

Using plastic sheets for weed control, even under current best management practices, pollutes soil with macro- and micro-plastics and negatively affect critical soil functions, according to a study. The United Nations considers soil plastic contamination an environmental health and food security threat. Around the world, over 25 million acres of farmland is seasonally covered with opaque plastic films used as “mulch” to prevent weeds, retain moisture, and warm soil—a practice known as “plasticulture.” Most studies have assessed plastic mulch soil contamination impacts using lab-based models or in experimental plots. Ekta Tiwari and Seeta Sistla sampled 12 farm fields on California’s Central Coast—a region of global agricultural importance. The authors surveyed fields after plastic mulch had been carefully removed for the season—a “best practice” to reduce plastic contamination in fields. However, all the fields surveyed had plastic contamination and the authors found up to 25 kg of macroplastic debris per hectare, covering up to 3.4% of field surface area. Microplastics were also found in all fields and microplastic concentrations positively correlated with macroplastic concentrations. Key soil heath traits were negatively correlated with macroplastic accumulation even at relatively low contamination levels, while no relationships with microplastic contamination were detected. Thus, current “best practices” are causing subtle but deleterious effects to soil. Because the use of plastic film mulches is rapidly expanding globally, the authors suggest exploring a non-plastic, biodegradable alternative to limit the threat to soil function and agricultural productivity caused by unabated plastic accumulation.

Strawberries planted into mulched beds  

Plastic contamination.

Plastic contamination from the field.

Credit

Seeta Sistla

Journal

PNAS Nexus

Article Title

Agricultural plastic pollution reduces soil function even under best management practices

Article Publication Date

22-Oct-2024

New study helps quantify climate change and ecotoxicity impacts of biodegradable microplastics

Yale University

Over 20 million tons of plastic are estimated to end up in the environment every year, with much of it breaking down into microplastics that are harmful to the health of humans and wildlife. Biodegradable and bio-based plastics made from organic material are often touted as more sustainable alternatives, but until now, scientists haven’t had the tools to assess the impact of biodegradable plastics that are not disposed of properly.

A team of researchers from the Center for Industrial Ecology at the Yale School of Environment  recently developed a valuable environmental impact assessment method to quantify the climate change and ecotoxicity impacts of biodegradable microplastics in the natural environment. The study, published in Nature Chemical Engineering, was led by postdoctoral associate Zhengyin Piao and co-authored by Yuan Yao, associate professor of industrial ecology and sustainable systems, and doctoral student Amma Asantewaa Agyei Boakye ’20 MEM.

Only 50% of bio-plastics are in fact biodegradable, and many biodegradable options are fossil-fuel based. Outside of the controlled conditions of a waste management facility, biodegradable plastics can have some of the same impacts as conventional plastics, including breaking down into small, problematic pieces. While they take less time to degrade, they also release greenhouse gases.

“There are a lot of people doing life cycle assessments for biodegradable plastics without being able to quantify impacts when those plastics enter nature,” said Yao. “There just hasn’t been any methodology available.”

For the study, the team modified existing tools to model the fate of biodegradable microplastics in aquatic environments, creating a more dynamic method that can account for fluctuations in emissions as plastics degrade. They tested it using the five types of biodegradable plastics that dominate the global market, two of which were made from petroleum and three from organic material.

Yao noted that it is a common assumption that growing biomass absorbs enough carbon dioxide to offset emissions from disposed bio-based biodegradable plastics.  However, the research team found that the release of methane as these microplastics degraded in the natural environment had greater global warming potential than the carbon uptake from biomass growth.

The study also showed that the  tradeoff depends on degradation rate and microplastic size. Shifting from conventional options to alternatives that degrade faster may reduce ecotoxicity, but itcould result in higher greenhouse gas emissions. The burden shifting did seem to disappear for smaller microplastics. For the smallest sizes tested — particles a million times smaller than an inch — the less biodegradable plastics had the highest emissions and toxicity.

“When plastic engineers try to design plastics, they often think higher biodegradability will definitely always be better,” Yao said. “Our results show that it’s not a linear relationship.”

The researchers said they hope the study will inform the design of sustainable plastics and waste management systems moving forward. The team is now refining the model to scale it up for a global analysis.

“Doing this kind of large-scale analysis is really important to have a better vision of what strategies the plastic industry can take if it wants to reduce all these environmental impacts,” Yao said.

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Journal

Nature Chemical Engineering

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics

 

Virginia Tech researcher works to preserve the white shark in the Mediterranean Sea

The research team went on a ‘White Shark Chase’ in the Sicilian Channel and located evidence of white sharks at four sites.

Virginia Tech

 

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(From left) Brendan Shea, Chiara Gambardella, Francesco Ferretti, Jeremy Jenrette, Robert Schallert before departing for the "White Shark Chase" in 2021.

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Credit: Courtesy Francesco Ferretti

The Mediterranean Sea is a paradise.

Pristine waters and an incredible coastline spanning multiple continents that are renowned the world over.

Below those picturesque, and sometimes crowded, waters swim a legendary creature facing a treacherous and uncertain future: the white shark.

Francesco Ferretti, an assistant professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, is working to save one of the most endangered white shark populations on the planet. The research team located signs of the remaining white sharks in the Sicilian Channel.

“We decided to take on the challenge of locating the last remaining white sharks in the Mediterranean and saving them,” Ferretti said. “One of the most critical steps was tagging individuals so we could learn more about their abundance and distribution. This led to the ‘White Shark Chase,’ an initiative where we began identifying areas in the Mediterranean where these animals might be found. It was not easy as these sharks are rare.”

Incredibly rare, in fact.

Unlike places like California, where the sharks gather near seal colonies, they have no known aggregation areas in the Mediterranean. Finding them felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, or, more aptly, a grain of sand in the sea.

Taylor Chapple, an assistant professor at Oregon State University at the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station and white shark technical expert on the project, was a postdoc with Ferretti at Stanford and they have continued to work together ever since.

“These animals likely have a very different ecology than the white sharks from other global populations,” Chapple said. “These seem to be more likely based on tunas and smaller fish. It almost flips our understanding of white sharks on its head. It allows these animals that are a couple of tons – bigger than any land perdators – to exist on a resource that is very surprising. Seals are very fatty, and these sharks are feeding on tuna and still getting this large.”

This research is the first step in establishing a monitoring program for the sharks in the region in the ongoing efforts to help prevent the animal’s extinction in the area.

The research was published in Frontiers of Marine Science on Oct. 22, 2024, and was done in collaboration with Jeremy Jenrette and Brendan Shea of the Department of Fish and Wildlife; Shea and Austin Gallagher with Beneath the Waves; Chiara Gambardella with the Polytechnic University of Marche; Gambardella and Stefano Moro with Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn; Khaled Echwikhi with University of Gabes and High Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine; Robert Schallert and Barbara Block with Stanford University; Schallert with Tag-a-Giant; and Chapple with Oregon State University’s Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station.

Funding was provided by The Explorers Club, Discovery Channel, Sharkproject, the Bertarelli Foundation, the Augmentum platform, and individual donors.

Ferretti organized three pilot expeditions in 2021, 2022, and 2023, focusing on what we believed to be hotspots for the species – the Sicilian Channel. These expeditions used improved methods and technologies compared to previous efforts, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, which detects traces of animal DNA in water, like using a dog to sniff out an animal’s presence. The researchers also used surface and deepwater cameras with bait to attract the sharks, and chumming to try and lure them closer.

During the expeditions, they detected the presence of white sharks on five occasions at the four sites. The team was correct in their choice of location and timing of May through June, but did not interact directly with the sharks.

“They are extremely sparse, and we realized that even with our efforts, we weren't working on a large enough scale,” Ferretti said. “We need to recalibrate our approach and develop new strategies. Despite these challenges, we were able to identify a stronghold of this population, particularly in the southern Sicilian Channel off northern Africa. This area is highly impacted by fishing, and it is where we are focusing our efforts now. The pilot expeditions allowed us to recalibrate for a larger program and provided valuable insight into where to focus future efforts.”

Stormy seas

The research team, which included graduate students from Virginia Tech, used leisure boats, which, while suitable, were far from ideal as they were not dedicated research vessels. They lacked space, speed, and the necessary equipment to properly store chum material—primarily bluefin tuna, which is highly regulated in the Mediterranean and difficult to source continuously.

“We were able to carry out our research, gathering vital data that will guide future expeditions,” Ferretti said. “It was a demanding but crucial part of our ongoing efforts to protect this endangered population.”

The journeys took the team from Marsala, on the northwest tip of Sicily, to various islands like Lampedusa and Pantelleria, as well as Tunisia and Malta, deploying long-line cameras and collecting eDNA samples along the way. However, the intense commercial boat and fishing traffic in the Sicilian Channel made things challenging, and the researchers had to monitor their equipment closely to avoid collisions with ships.

In 2023, the team utilized a large 87-foot sailing yacht to conduct open water research and had a film crew document the mission.

While they did not directly see any white sharks, they successfully tagged a Mako shark for the first time in the region as part of another research project.

And, Ferretti said, the path for future research missions has been set.

The next horizon

Now, the research team is planning and fundraising for multiple future expeditions in the Sicilian Channel and beyond.

“We know that one hot spot is there, but there may also be other important areas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea hosting critical habitat such as a nursery,” Ferretti said.

The researchers are implementing a series of approaches, including monitoring ports in North Africa to track interactions between fishers and sharks and collect biological material. This allows them to gather genetic and isotopic samples for analysis. Through isotopic analysis, they can learn more about the population’s structure, diet, and changes in habitat as the sharks grow.

“We don’t do research in a vacuum,” Chapple said. “The research we do now is so multi-disciplinary and the questions that we can ask now are not achievable as a single entity. This white shark chase – there is so much knowledge held in local communities and stakeholders, that as a scientist we cannot step in there and say this is what we should do. These multi-institutional collaborations are critical for understanding the animals, the systems, and the culture that happens around the research.”

These collaborations across not only universities, but also regions, add additional tools to the researchers’ toolbox to improve effectiveness.

“We are expanding our network of local and international collaborators to maximize the value of the data we collect and establish a proper monitoring program for the Mediterranean,” Ferretti said. “Currently, there is no formal monitoring or conservation program in place for this population. We want now to keep monitoring this population because we do not want to lose it.”

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Journal

Frontiers in Marine Science

DOI

10.3389/fmars.2024.1425511 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

On the tracks of white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea

Article Publication Date

22-Oct-2024

 

New group of digital criminals are exploiting the United States' financial systems

Cryptocurrency fraud in Nigeria is exclusively committed by young men, with 100% of convicted fraudsters being male and nearly two-thirds under the age of 30, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

University of Surrey

Cryptocurrency fraud in Nigeria is exclusively committed by young men, with 100% of convicted fraudsters being male and nearly two-thirds under the age of 30, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. The United States is firmly in the sights of these criminals, with 55% of all cases involving American targets.

The study, conducted in collaboration with Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), analysed case files of convicted cryptocurrency fraudsters in Nigeria. It paints a disturbing picture of a new, tech-savvy criminal demographic conducting sophisticated crimes that exploit digital currencies to defraud victims across borders. These activities pose significant challenges to traditional law enforcement.

Dr Suleman Lazarus, one of the lead authors of the study and cybercrime expert at the University of Surrey, said: 

"Our research reveals a disturbing surge in cryptocurrency fraud. We're observing a rising generation of young, tech-savvy male offenders who adeptly exploit digital platforms and cryptocurrencies to perpetrate high-stakes fraud. The fact that they predominantly target victims in the United States spotlights the transnational nature of this threat and underlines the urgent need for international collaboration to curb these crimes."

The research team reviewed individual case files of convicted cryptocurrency fraudsters to gain insights into the methods, motivations, and financial gains of these digital criminals. The study found that fraudsters used a variety of popular social media and communication platforms to perpetrate their schemes, with Facebook (27%), Gmail (22%), and Instagram (14%) being the most common.
Perhaps most alarmingly, the study revealed that Bitcoin was the preferred method for 46% of cryptocurrency fraud cases. This preference for Bitcoin highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and recovering stolen funds due to the anonymity provided by cryptocurrencies.

The financial gains from these fraudulent activities varied significantly, ranging from $1,000 to as much as $475,000 in cash and even 1,200 Bitcoin (approximately $81.96 million). These figures underscore the lucrative nature of cryptocurrency fraud and its potential to inflict substantial financial harm on victims.

Interestingly, the study also revealed that only a quarter of convicted fraudsters held a degree, challenging the common perception that sophisticated digital crimes require a high level of technical expertise.

Dr Lazarus continued:
"As cryptocurrencies continue to gain popularity, our research serves as a wake-up call for law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and the general public to remain vigilant against the evolving threats in the digital financial landscape."

[ENDS]

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Journal

Criminal Justice

DOI

10.1080/10345329.2024.2403294 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

An assessment of convicted cryptocurrency fraudsters