Papillary architecture of the Leopardus pardalis tongue

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a Felidae of wide geographical distribution and food flexibility; therefore, it is essential to understand the morphology of the species. Thus, we aimed to describe its lingual morphology in order to gain information regarding the anatomy of this carnivore's digestive system. The tongues ??were removed for ex situ macroscopic and morphometric analyses, as well as for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, of fragments of the different lingual regions. The tongue of L. pardalis had an elongated form that was subdivided into the apex, body and root, in which four papillary types were observed: filiform, fungiform, circumvallate and conical. It presented with a stratified, keratinized squamous epithelium, followed by loose and dense connective tissues, as well as a skeletal striated musculature that comprised most of the organ. In addition, in scanning electron microscopy the filiform papillae showed a complex with multiple layers of keratin with triangular shape projected caudally in oral cavity. The fungiform papillae were distributed among the filiform and showed a rounded shape with some gustatory pores, and are keratinized but in a lower intensity if compared with filiform. The vallate papillae, located in lingual root, showed an oval format, had a deep groove surrounded the papillae and some gustatory pores. The conical papillae are located in lingual root and are similar to the filiform. The tongue of L. pardalis resembles other carnivorous species, mainly among felids. However, it differed in relation to the quantity of vallate papillae and the absence of foliate papillae.     

Chemical, Sensorial and Rheological Properties of a New Organic Rice Bran Beverage

Rice bran is a solid residue from rice polishing that is used in animal nutrition and rice oil production. Cultivation conditions with agro-toxics, lipids instability, and tendency for mycotoxin contamination restrict its application in human nutrition. Therefore, organic agriculture is an alternative to use the properties of rice bran. Rice bran beverage is a new cereal product from organic rice. This work presents the preliminary results of the chemical and rheological studies of a bath pasteurized rice bran beverage. Compared with integral defatted milk, soy extracts, and brown rice low-fat milk, the rice bran beverage studied in this work presents itself as an important source of minerals and unsaturated lipids. All essential amino acids were found in this product. Glutamic and aspartic acids were predominant. Bath pasteurization at boiling water temperature for 15 and 30 min was adequate for microbiological safety. Refrigeration storage for 20 days, evaluated by pH and acidity variations, was ideal for assessment of the beverage conservation time. The beverage viscosity was of the Newtonian standard behavior, and its viscosity during storage was not a good parameter to evaluate shelf life. Sensory preference tests showed positive perspectives for this new beverage.     

Retracted: Effectiveness of carp pituitary extract and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue administration (by either injection or cholesterol pellet implantation) on spawning performance in female sturgeon,Huso huso

The effectiveness of common carp pituitary extract (CPE), luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRH‐A₂) injections and LHRH‐A₂ implants for spawning induction in female sturgeon, Huso huso was examined. In the first trial, fish were injected with 7% physiological saline (control), 50 mg kg^?1 CPE or LHRH‐A₂ at 3.5, 7, 8 or 10 μg kg^?1. In the second trial, fish were treated with LHRH‐A₂ cholesterol pellet implants containing 0, 3.5, 7, 8 and 10 μg kg^?1 LHRH‐A₂. Ovulated eggs were removed using a minimally invasive surgical technique and were artificially fertilized. Injection of CPE and LHRH‐A₂ at doses of 3.5, 7, 8 and 10 μg kg^?1 resulted in the number of ovulated fish more than LHRH‐A₂ implants (similar doses) or controls, although there was no significant difference at doses of 8 and 10 μg kg^?1 (P ≥ 0.05). The latency period of fish receiving CPE and LHRH‐A₂ injections was approximately 20 h, which was significantly lower than in fish receiving LHRH‐A₂ implants (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in rates of fertilization or hatching among the progeny produced in any of the treatment groups (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, the data from this study could be useful for artificial propagation of not‐fully‐matured females of H. huso at sturgeon hatcheries.     

Carbohydrate molecule size affects the metabolic and digestive dynamics of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen)

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of carbohydrates with different molecular sizes on growth performance, feed utilization and composition, activity of digestive enzymes, plasma and hepatic metabolites of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen). Triplicate groups of jundiá (4.08 ± 0.005 g) were stocked in 12 tanks with stocking density of 25 individuals per tank and fed for 40 days with four isonitrogenous diets (37%) and isocaloric diets (3,200 kcal/kg) containing fructose (FRU), sucrose (SUC), maltodextrin (MALDEX) or corn starch (CS). The results showed no significant differences for growth variables and digestive enzymes. Fish whose diet received maltodextrin showed higher levels of deposited body fat and hepatosomatic index. Moreover, the above‐mentioned treatment resulted in lower concentrations of glucose and cholesterol in the plasma of jundiá, higher levels of triglycerides, and lower reserves of glucose and liver glycogen. However, fish fed the starch‐based diet presented higher moisture content, crude protein deposition, and body protein retention coefficient. In that same treatment, the jundiá presented higher levels of plasma glucose and liver protein. In conclusion, the efficiency of using digestible carbohydrates in iso‐nutritional diets for jundiá depends on the size of their molecular structure. The corn starch was the best dietary carbohydrate source for jundiá, based on feed utilization and composition and greater synchronicity between energy utilization and protein synthesis.     

Trials on Pacific oyster (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassostrea gigas</Emphasis> Thunberg) rearing in the middle Adriatic Sea by means of different trays

The aim of this study was to compare the growth of juvenile Pacific oysters (mean weight 2.22 g; mean length 26.8 mm) reared with the suspended technique using three different types of trays fixed to long lines at a mussel farm located in the middle Adriatic Sea. Growth, mortality rate and quality traits of oysters cultured in a new type of tray (EXP) were compared to those of specimens reared in conventional trays (CON) and in “poches” (POC). Culture density was fixed at 0.03 oysters cm⁻² in all the tray types. After 11 months of growth, oysters reared in all the tray types reached marketable size, weighing between 94.08 and 110 g without significant differences. Length (98.8–103.3 mm), width (61.1–70.5 mm) and height (31.6–34.1 mm) did not show significant variations. The condition index showed differences among EXP (93.17%) compared to CON (81%) and POC oysters (72.87%), and significant differences were found between those reared at the surface and the bottom, regardless of tray type. Concerning mortality, the EXP group (7.5%) recorded significantly smaller losses than CON (18.4%) trays and POC (31.6%).     

Morphological,physiological and biochemical aspects of osmopriming-induced drought tolerance in lentil

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important grain legume crop, mostly grown in semi-arid environments and often faces intermittent drought spells during different growth stages, which severely hamper its yield. This study, comprising of three separate experiments, was conducted to evaluate the potential of seed priming with CaCl₂ in improving drought tolerance in lentil. In the first experiment, lentil seeds were hydroprimed (water) or osmoprimed with 0.5 and 1% CaCl₂; while non-primed seeds were taken as control. In the second and third experiments, lentil seeds were subjected to pre-optimized osmopriming (1% CaCl₂) and hydropriming followed by surface drying or re-drying of primed seeds to original weight. The first two experiments were conducted in petri plates, while, in experiment 3, seeds were planted in plastic pots containing peat moss, maintained at 75% water holding capacity (WHC; well-watered) or 50% WHC (water deficit). Hydropriming and osmopriming improved seed germination, seedling growth, biomass production, chlorophyll intensity, sugar accumulation and reduced the oxidative stress in lentil under water deficit. However, osmopriming (1% CaCl₂) was more effective than the hydropriming in improving the lentil growth, biomass production, Ca accumulation and sugar metabolism under both well-watered and water deficit conditions. Seed surface drying, after priming, was more beneficial in improving the lentil performance, under both well-watered and water deficit conditions, than re-drying to original weight. Osmopriming (1% CaCl₂) increased the seeding dry weight (67%), SPAD value (140%), leaf Ca concentration (56%), α-amylase activity (55%), total soluble sugars (48%) and reduced malanodialdehyde content (35.9%) and total antioxidant activity (29.2%) than un-primed seeds under water deficit. In conclusion, osmopriming improved the lentil performance under optimal and water deficit conditions through early and synchronized emergence, better sugar and Ca accumulation which reduced the oxidative damage and resulted in better seedling growth and biomass production.     

Post-harvest disorders and mineral composition of apple fruits as affected by pre-harvest calcium treatments

Abstract

The effect of pre-harvest calcium sprays, CaCl₂ and Ca (NO₃)_2, on apple (Malus domestica) N, P, K, Ca and Mg content, storability and incidence of physiological disorders (superficial scald, bitter pit, physiological spot) was studied using two cultivars, ‘Krameri Tuviõun’ and ‘Talvenauding’. In the first year calcium treatment did not reduce any physiological disorders or loss of marketable yield. In the second year calcium treatment reduced storage losses until four months after storage. Bitter pit in ‘Krameri Tuviõun’ was unaffected by calcium treatment, but physiological spot of ‘Krameri Tuviõun’ and superficial scald of ‘Talvenauding’ were reduced by calcium treatment in the second year. Both physiological disorders of 'Krameri Tuviõun’ correlated negatively with Mg and P content and Mg/Ca ratio in apples. Superficial scald of ‘Talvenauding’ correlated negatively with Ca content and positively with K/Ca ratio, N/Ca ratio and Mg/Ca ratio in fruits. The conclusion can be made that content of Ca and its ratios with other nutrients plays an important role in the development of superficial scald on ‘Talvenauding’ fruits, and increasing Ca content in fruit can therefore be recommended for improving post-harvest quality of this cultivar. Since bitter pit in 'Krameri Tuviõun’ was not reduced by calcium treatment, it would be worth trying other measures for this cultivar.     

Distribution and Contamination of Heavy Metal in the Coastal Sediments of Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia

The coastal sediments of Port Klang in Malaysia were monitored from November 2009 to October 2010 to evaluate the spatial distribution of heavy metals As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Pb, Mn, Al and Fe. Sediment samples were collected from 21 stations, covering three subsidiary ports, namely West Port, North Port and South Port, at three-month intervals. The geo-accumulation index and the enrichment factor were estimated to assess contamination status based on background values. Additionally, the sediment quality guide was applied to evaluate the adverse biological effects of heavy metals. These results show that the concentrations of some metals, such as As, Cd and Pb were comparatively higher than the background values. This is considered a critical environmental issue for this region. Furthermore, the toxicity estimation indicates that living organisms have a high risk of As exposure. Spatial distribution maps of heavy metals would aid in the identification of pollution sources and vulnerable sites.     

Variation of the amino acid scores and of the nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors in barley grain as a function of nitrogen content as compared with wheat and rye

Barley grains (9 samples from 7 cultivars) with nitrogen contents (N) ranging from 1.45 to 4.01% of dry matter were analysed for their amino acid (AA) composition with high accuracy from six different hydrolysates per sample. AA levels in grain increased as linear functions ofN with correlation coefficients close to unity. A comparison with literature data confirmed that the AA composition of any grain sample of normal barley can be predicted from itsN for all phenotypes and genotypes. AAs in grain protein changed as hyperbolic functions ofN which increased for Phe, Pro and Glx but more or less strongly decreased for the other AAs. By plotting AA scores againstN, barley proteins were shown to be always richer than wheat and rye in Val and Phe + Tyr; sometimes richer than both other species forN<2 (Lys); 2.2 (Leu and Ile); 3.4 (Thr); sometimes intermediate to wheat and rye above the latterN values. They were also intermediate in sulphur AAs forN<1.9 and drastically poorer forN>1.9. However, they were richer than both other species in Trp forN>1.6. The hyperbolic variations of non-protein nitrogen and nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors were determined as a function ofN and also compared with those of wheat and rye.