Marine-Derived Chitosan Nanoparticles Improved the Intestinal Histo-Morphometrical Features in Association with the Health and Immune Response of Grey Mullet (Liza ramada)

Marine-derived substances are known for their beneficial influences on aquatic animals’ performances and are recommended to improve intestinal health, immunity, and anti-oxidative status. The present study investigates the role of chitosan nanoparticles on the intestinal histo-morphometrical features in association with the health and immune response of Grey Mullet (Liza ramada). Chitosan nanoparticles are included in the diets at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg and introduced to fish in a successive feeding trial for eight weeks. The final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) parameters are significantly increased while feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreases by chitosan nanoparticles compared to the control (p < 0.05). The morphometric analysis of the intestines reveals a significant improvement in villus height, villus width, and the number of goblet cells in chitosan-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between the thickness of the enterocyte brush border and the chitosan dose, referring to an increasing absorptive activity. Histologically, the intestinal wall of Grey Mullet consists of four layers; mucosa, sub-mucosa, tunica muscularis (muscular layers), and serosa. The histological examination of the L. ramada intestine shows a normal histo-morphology. The epithelial layer of intestinal mucosa is thrown into elongated finger-like projections, the intestinal villi. The values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBCs), total protein (TP), albumin, and globulin are significantly increased in fish fed 1, and 2 g/kg of chitosan nanoparticles compared to fish fed 0 and 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest levels of TP and albumin are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg diet (p < 0.05). The lysozyme activity and phagocytic index are significantly enhanced by feeding chitosan nanoparticles at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg, whereas the phagocytic activity is improved in fish fed 1 and 2 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest lysozyme activity and phagocytic index are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg. SOD is significantly activated by feeding chitosan nanoparticles at 1 g/kg. Simultaneously, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities also are enhanced by feeding chitosan at 1 and 2 g/kg, compared to fish fed 0 and 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest GPx and CAT activities are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg (p < 0.05). Conversely, the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels are decreased by feeding chitosan at 1 and 2 g/kg, with the lowest being in fish fed 1 g/kg (p < 0.05). To summarize, the results elucidate that L. ramada fed dietary chitosan nanoparticles have a marked growth rate, immune response, and anti-oxidative response. These improvements are attributed to the potential role of chitosan nanoparticles in enhancing intestinal histo-morphometry and intestinal health. These results soundly support the possibility of using chitosan nanoparticles at 1–2 g/kg as a feasible functional supplement for aquatic animals.     

Neuroprotective Metabolites from Vietnamese Marine Derived Fungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium Genera

Low molecular weight secondary metabolites of marine fungi Aspergillus flocculosus, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp. from Van Phong and Nha Trang Bays (Vietnam) were studied and a number of polyketides, bis-indole quinones and terpenoids were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Stereochemistry of some compounds was established based on ECD data. A chemical structure of asterriquinone F (6) was thoroughly described for the first time. Anthraquinone (13) was firstly obtained from a natural source. Neuroprotective influences of the isolated compounds against 6-OHDA, paraquat and rotenone toxicity were investigated. 4-Hydroxyscytalone (1), 4-hydroxy-6-dehydroxyscytalone (2) and demethylcitreoviranol (3) have shown significant increasing of paraquat- and rotenone-treated Neuro-2a cell viability and anti-ROS activity.     

QuEChERS-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱技术同时测定大蒜中10种农药残留

建立了快速、准确测定大蒜中10种农药多残留的QuEChERS-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测技术。样品经酸化乙腈提取,无水硫酸镁(500 mg)除水后,用N-丙基乙二胺(PSA,500 mg)和十八烷基键合硅胶(C₁₈,500 mg)净化,以乙腈和0.1%甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,Waters C₁₈色谱柱分离,采用正离子多反应监测(MRM)模式检测,基质匹配标准溶液外标法定量。10种农药的检出限在0.020~0.800 μg·kg^-1,定量限在0.067~2.670 μg·kg^-1。线性范围内相关系数均大于0.99。加标回收率在73.4%~109.0%,相对标准偏差在1.2%~9.8%。结果表明,该方法简便、快速、灵敏度高、重现性好,可同时测定大蒜中10种农药。     

Productivity of Sargassum linearifolium in potassium fortified inland saline water under laboratory conditions

Growing aquatic species in inland saline water (ISW) is one way to reduce the adverse impact of ISW to agriculture farms. This 84‐day laboratory‐trial was conducted to study the growth of Sargassum linearifolium cultured in ocean water (OW), ISW, ISW fortified with potassium equivalent to 100% (ISW100), 66% (ISW66) and 33% (ISW33) of potassium in OW at 35 g/L. The biomass and cumulative specific growth rate (SGR) of S. linearifolium increased significantly (p < .05) with increased potassium in ISW until 56 days and then declined. The ISW100 and OW resulted in similar growth patterns and yielded peak biomass at day 42, proving static biomass for the next 28 days before declining. The biomass of S. linearifolium cultured in ISW and ISW33 significantly (p < .05) decreased and was lower than in ISW100 and died after day 56. The SGR of S. linearifolium in OW, ISW100 and ISW66 levelled off and showed no difference during the first 56 days. The S. linearifolium biomass and SGR negatively and significantly (p < .05) correlated with the concentrations of nitrate, phosphate in all waters. The increased potassium concentration in ISW similar to its concentration in SW brought the growth of S. linearifolium cultured to a level that was similar in OW.     

Comparative energy and economic analyses of conventional and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods of rice production in Thai Nguyen Province,Vietnam

The consumption of energy inputs in agricultural production has been increasing rapidly during the past decades. However, given the limitations and costs of non-renewable energy, increasing production while using the least energy possible has become a major concern of most nations. Prompted by this concern, we conducted a face-to-face survey of 90 farming households in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, to find out how energy is being used in agriculture and, specifically, in their rice production. Through analysis of energy input–output balances, combined with economic efficiency analysis, a comparison was made of conventional and SRI methods of rice production. The study found that applying the SRI method can save around 23% of energy inputs, while increasing energy outputs by 11%. Economic benefits per hectare also rise by more than 8 million dong (USD 364) compared to those under the conventional cultivation system. The study also showed conflicts between the energy and economic balances for manual compared with machine ploughing operations. This study contributes to providing an overview of energy consumption in rice cultivation at the household level. Its findings can help stakeholders to assess current policies and make better decisions on the uses of energy in agricultural production. In addition, the comprehensive approach taken here to analysing energy use and efficiency could expand the analysis and comparison of energy uses at sectoral or activity level—still a new field in Vietnam and many other countries.     

Osmoregulatory and immunological status of the pond-raised striped catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pangasianodon hypophthalmus</Emphasis> S.) as affected by seasonal runoff and salinity changes in the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

In Vietnam, the production of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus S. reached more than 1.2 millions of tons in 2014 and is mainly gathered in the Mekong Delta (South Vietnam). A survey was carried out during the dry season 2013 (March–April) and rainy season 2014 (July–August) in 12 fish farms of the lower (Tra Vinh Province) and higher (Can Tho Province) Mekong River Delta. This study allowed drawing up current key osmoregulatory and innate immune parameters of striped catfish in aquaculture depending on the geographical location, particularly the proximity to the River Mekong Estuary and the seasonal surface runoff. In the dry season, plasma osmolality was positively correlated with salinity. Gill Na⁺K⁺ ATPase dropped in the rainy season, while kidney Na⁺K⁺ ATPase remained stable. Abundance of immune blood cells, especially thrombocytes and monocytes, tended to increase in farms located in tidal area. Production of reactive oxygen species in the spleen, kidney lysozyme activity and plasma complement activity did not vary whatever the season or the proximity to the estuary. Plasma lysozyme activity was 50-fold higher than in kidney and increased in the rainy season as well as in tidal sites. Kidney complement activity decreased in the dry season, especially in tidal sites. In conclusion, regarding key osmoregulatory and immune factors, striped catfish farms located in the Mekong Delta may be affected by seasonal and regional salinity and runoff fluctuations.     

Should only females of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii be selected in genetic improvement programmes?

Sexual dimorphism is widely observed in almost all farmed aquatic animal species but giant freshwater pawn (GFP) is unique, with males characterized by three main morphotypes (blue claw, orange claw and small males) and females by different reproduction status (ovary, berried egg and already‐spawned females). There has been reported evidence that the effect of male morphotype may have masked genetic variation in growth‐related traits, as a result the heritability for male body weight was lower than that estimated in female. A pending question has arisen whether selection should be made in female only. To answer this question, we used an 8‐year data set from a long‐term selection programme (2008–2015) for high growth in this species comprising 106,756 individuals that were offspring of 515 sires and 810 dams. The body weight data of female and male GFP or of each morphotype was treated as a separate trait and a multi‐trait approach was used to estimate genetic correlations for homologous traits between sexes and between morphotypes. Our analysis showed that there were little differences in the heritability estimates between female and male. In female, mature ovary individual displayed higher heritability than berried egg and already‐spawned females. For male, the heritability for blue claw, orange claw and small males were 0.11, 0.06 and 0.00 respectively. Between‐sex genetic correlation was moderate (0.55 ± 0.11) for body weight, suggesting that the trait expressions in female and male may be genetically different. In female, the genetic correlations for body weight among three female types were close to one (0.91–0.94). In contrast, the genetic correlations for body weight between male morphotypes especially between blue claw or orange claw and small males were low (0.15–0.25). Furthermore, we estimated genetic gain as the difference in least square means (LSM) or estimated breeding values (EBV) between the selection line and control group. The genetic gain in body weight was smaller in females than in males. It is concluded that there is no need to run separate breeding programme for female and male GFP. A combined selection using both female and male data can achieve selection response for body weight as demonstrated in the present study.     

植物TIR1/AFBs基因家族研究进展

TIR1/AFBs基因家族是一种存在于细胞核中的生长素受体,属于F-box蛋白基因中的一个小亚族。它们通过与相关生长素相结合活化转录因子来促进基因的表达,从而进行调控,是生长素信号转导过程中的关键部分。为了深入研究生长素信号转导机制,从TIR1/AFBs基因家族的发现与结构,家族成员表达模式的差异及对植物生长发育方面的调节等方面概括介绍了TIR1/AFBs基因家族的分子调控机制,总结了TIR1/AFBs基因的功能。最后探讨了TIR1/AFBs基因的研究方向。     

大型喷杆喷雾机钟摆式主被动悬架自适应鲁棒控制研究

针对大型喷雾机喷杆钟摆式主被动悬架系统存在的参数不确定性和随机干扰导致控制精度低、稳定性差的问题，对基于模型补偿的自适应鲁棒控制算法进行研究。建立了钟摆式主被动悬架的非线性动力学模型和调节机构几何方程，基于模型设计了自适应鲁棒控制器，综合悬架系统和电液位置伺服系统模型中存在的参数不确定性，同时兼顾系统未补偿的摩擦力和外部扰动等不确定非线性因素，通过理论分析和试验证明，在同时存在模型参数不确定和不确定非线性的情况下，设计的控制器可以保证系统输出跟踪控制的暂态性能和稳态精度。以单出杆液压作动器驱动的28m大型喷杆主被动悬架为例，借助建立的大型喷杆悬架半实物仿真平台进行了控制算法的试验验证，并使用Stewart六自由度运动平台模拟底盘的运动干扰，与反馈线性化控制器、鲁棒反馈控制器、PID控制器进行了试验对比，结果表明，设计的基于模型补偿的自适应鲁棒控制器最大跟踪误差0.148°，而反馈线性化控制器最大跟踪误差0.201°，鲁棒反馈控制器最大跟踪误差0.51°，PID控制器最大跟踪误差0.48°。设计的控制器在同时存在参数不确定性和扰动的情况下，使用较小的反馈增益能够保证渐进跟踪性能和稳态跟踪精度。