Qualitative analysis of cartilaginous jaw element malformation in cultured yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) larvae

A central problem facing worldwide culture of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is the presence of skeletal malformations, including jaw deformities. This study presents a morphological characterization of normal and abnormal cartilage jaw structures during early larval development. Samples of 70–150 larvae were collected from three cohorts from 2 to 9 days post hatching, anaesthetized and fixed for cartilage staining. Cartilaginous components were defined clearly at four days post hatch (dph) (4.65 ± 0.05 mm total length), and abnormal jaw structures were detectable at this time. Jaw deformities observed included extension of Meckel's cartilage with or without ventral bending of the anterior tip, displacement of ceratohyal and hypohyal cartilage ventrally and below Meckel's cartilage, and shortening and dorsal flexion of the lower jaw. At 4 dph, between 44% and 47% of all larvae examined had jaw abnormalities. The contribution of each deformity to the total number of deformities was variable among the three cohorts examined. To compare shape difference accurately we performed an exploratory, landmark‐based geometric morphometric analysis using seven homologous landmarks. Larvae were classified into three jaw morphology groups. The geometric morphometric approach provides a useful tool to standardize classification of cartilage jaw abnormalities at early developmental larval stages. Early recognition of developing abnormalities is of importance for fish farmers in both improving fish selection efficiency and for evaluating effects of rearing parameters.     

Pacific approaches to fundraising in the digital age: COVID-19, resilience and community relational economic practices

The aim of this paper is to discuss how community relational economic practices in virtual spaces are effective in building resilience because they are borne of and sustained by familiar traditional Fijian values of collective work and social interdependence. The researchers adopted a pandemic-induced methodology, conducting online-based talanoa (fluid conversations between two or more people) with a number of people leading, or involved in, these initiatives. We also engaged with online community groups behind a number of initiatives. Examples are provided of online crowdfunding, livestreaming of concerts to solicit donations, and bartering facilitated by social media sites. To conclude, we stress the enduring nature of communal bonds and traditional systems which Pacific people readily adapt and translate into different forums and forms in the face of challenges such as the restrictions and financial hardships caused by COVID-19. The findings highlight that solesolevaki – a tradition of working together for a common cause – can also occur in the digital era: this demonstrates the deep connection of Fijian peoples and their sense of obligation to one another and to their culture, regardless of where they are in the world.     

Gene pool and connectivity patterns of Pinna nobilis in the Balearic Islands (Spain,Western Mediterranean Sea): Implications for its conservation through restocking

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Effect of Seawater on the Activity of Antibiotics Against Vibrios Isolated from the Hemolymph of Cultured Pacific White Shrimp

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of seawater (SW) on the activity of antibiotics belonging to 10 families (aminoglycosides, aminopenicillins, carbapenems, β‐lactams, chloramphenicols, monobactams, nitrofurans, quinolones, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines) against Vibrio strains isolated from hemolymph of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, farmed in Northeastern Brazil and standard strain Vibrio cholera ATCC 19582. Susceptibility of the strains to antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by macrodilution method. The media Mueller–Hinton agar and broth used in the above methods were diluted in distilled water (control, 1% NaCl, pH 7.5) and SW (2.5% NaCl, pH 7.5). The antibiotics most affected by dilution in SW were tetracycline, penicillin, cephalothin, aztreonam, ampicillin, and imipenem, as indicated by a considerable increase in the number of strains classified as intermediate or resistance. Thus, in this study, the efficiency of these antibiotics on Vibrio strains was found to be reduced by contact with SW.     

Oxytocin in pig seminal plasma is positively related with in vivo fertility of inseminated sows

Background:Identification of relevant in vivo biomarkers for fertility remains a challenge for the livestock industry.Concentrations of the small peptide hormone oxytocin(OXT),involved in male reproductive function and present in the seminal plasma(SP)of several species could be a robust one.This study characterized concentrations of SPOXT in ejaculates from boars used in artificial insemination(AI)programs aiming to evaluate its relationship with sperm quality variables and in vivo fertility of their liquid-stored AI-semen.Seminal OXT concentrations(ng/mL)were measured in 169 ejaculates from 61 boars of the Duroc,Pietrain,Landrace and Large White breeds using a direct competitive immunoassay test based on AlphaLISA?technology.Ejaculate(ejaculate volume,sperm concentration,total sperm count)and sperm parameters(motility,viability,intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species,plasma membrane fluidity)were assessed at 0 h and 72 h in AI-semen samples stored at 17℃.In vivo fertility included only 18 Large White and Landrace boars whose AI-semen was used to inseminated>100 sows and evaluated both farrowing rate and litter size of 3,167 sows.Results:The results showed that SP-OXT differed between boars and between ejaculates within boar(P<0.05)but not between breeds(Duroc,Pietrain,Landrace and Large White).Ejaculates with higher SP-OXT concentration/mL(hierarchically grouped;P<0.001)had larger volume and came from younger boars(P<0.05).Ejaculates of boars showing positive farrowing rate deviation exhibited higher(P<0.05)SP-OXT concentration/mL than those with negative farrowing rate deviation.Conclusion:The SP concentrations of OXT are boar,ejaculate and age dependent,and positively related with ejaculate volume and farrowing rates of liquid-stored semen AI-doses.     

A pest alien invasion in progress: potential pathways of origin of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys populations in Italy

Journal of Pest Science - The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an agricultural and household pest native of far East. In the last years, it has spread to and established in...     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Molecular Diagnostic Ratios in Airborne Particles (PM10) Collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in particulate matter (PM10) collected in a suburban area with industrial and vehicular emissions in the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro City (Brazil). A total of 22 samples were collected between March and August 2005 by means of a high volume PM10 sampler. The particulate matter contained in the filters was extracted ultrasonically with dichloromethane. The extracts were later analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The individual concentrations of PAHs ranged between the detection limit and 0.386 ng m^?3. The PAHs concentrations observed in this study were towards the lowest end of the range of values reported for other European locations and also lower than values obtained for South America. PAHs concentrations and molecular ratios showed that light cars seem to be the main contributors to PM10 emissions, but diesel vehicles are clearly minor emission sources and industrial contributions should not be disregarded until more data are obtained.     

Mushroom tyrosinase: catalase activity, inhibition, and suicide inactivation

Mushroom tyrosinase exhibits catalase activity with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) as substrate. In the absence of a one-electron donor substrate, H(2)O(2) is able to act as both oxidizing and reducing substrate. The kinetic parameters V(max) and K(m) that characterize the reaction were determined from the initial rates of oxygen gas production (V(0)(O)()2) under anaerobic conditions. The reaction can start from either of the two enzyme species present under anaerobic conditions: met-tyrosinase (E(m)) and deoxy-tyrosinase (E(d)). Thus, a molecule of H(2)O(2) can reduce E(m) to E(d) via the formation of oxy-tyrosinase (E(ox)) (E(m) + H(2) <==> O(2) right harpoon over left harpoon E(ox)), E(ox) releases oxygen into the medium and is transformed into E(d), which upon binding another molecule of H(2)O(2) is oxidized to E(m). The effect of pH and the action of inhibitors have also been studied. Catalase activity is favored by increased pH, with an optimum at pH = 6.4. Inhibitors that are analogues of o-diphenol, binding to the active site coppers diaxially, do not inhibit catalase activity but do reduce diphenolase activity. However, chloride, which binds in the equatorial orientation to the protonated enzyme (E(m)H), inhibits both catalase and diphenolase activities. Suicide inactivation of the enzyme by H(2)O(2) has been demonstrated. A kinetic mechanism that is supported by the experimental results is presented and discussed.     

Presence of phytosterol oxides in crude vegetable oils and their fate during refining

The content of phytosterol oxidation products was determined in samples of crude vegetable oils: peanut, sunflower, maize, palm nut, and lampante olive oils that were intended for refining and not for direct consumption. The 7 alpha- and 7 beta-hydroxy derivatives of beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol and the 7-keto-beta-sitosterol were the principal phytosterol oxides found in almost all of the oils analyzed. In some oils, the epoxy and dihydroxy derivatives of beta-sitosterol were also found at very low levels. The highest total concentrations of phytosterol oxides, ranging from 4.5 to 67.5 and from 4.1 to 60.1 ppm, were found in sunflower and maize oils, respectively. Lower concentrations were present in the peanut oils, 2.7-9.6 ppm, and in the palm nut oil, 5.5 ppm, whereas in the lampante olive oils, only three samples of the six analyzed contained a low concentration (1.5-2.5 ppm) of oxyphytosterols. No detectable levels of phytosterol oxides were found in the samples of palm and coconut oils. Bleaching experiments were carried out on a sample of sunflower oil at 80 degrees C for 1 h with 1 and 2% of both acidic and neutral earths. The bleaching caused a reduction of the hydroxyphytosterol with partial formation of steroidal hydrocarbons with three double bonds in the ring system at the 2-, 4-, and 6-positions (steratrienes). The same sunflower oil was deodorized at 180 degrees C under vacuum for 1 h, and no dehydration products were formed with a complete recovery of the hydroxyphytosterols. A bleaching test with acidic earths was carried out also with an extra virgin olive oil fortified with 7-keto-cholesterol, dihydroxycholesterol, and alpha-epoxy-cholesterol. There was no formation of steratrienes from these compounds, but dihydroxycholesterol underwent considerable decomposition and alpha-epoxycholesterol underwent ring opening with formation of the dihydroxy derivative, whereas 7-ketocholesterol was rather stable     

Evaluation of the efficiency of three different solvent systems to extract triterpene saponins from roots of Panax quinquefolius using high-performance liquid chromatography

Despite the wide availability of liquid herbal extracts using mixtures of alcohol, glycerin, and water, or glycerin and water as solvents, no data on the chemical composition of such extracts is readily available. In this study, the amount and the stability of the major saponins in Panax quinquefolius root extracts, made either with 50% (v/v) aqueous ethanol, a mixture (v/v/v) of 20% ethanol, 40% glycerin, and 40% water, or with 65% (v/v) aqueous glycerin, were evaluated by HPLC-UV analysis. The amount of total saponins was highest in the 50% aqueous ethanol extract (61.7 +/- 0.1 mg/g dry root), although similar to the ethanol-glycerin-water extract (59.4 +/- 0.5 mg/g dry root). Saponins were significantly lower in the 65% aqueous glycerin extract (51.5 +/- 0.2 mg/g dry root). Interestingly, the amounts of individual saponins were quite variable depending on the solvent. This is in part due to enzymatic cleavage of ginsenosides in the glycerin containing extracts during the maceration process. Storage of the extracts at 25 degrees C over the period of a year led to a 13-15% loss of saponins with all three types of extractions.