Recirculation nursery systems for bivalves

In order to increase production of bivalves in hatcheries and nurseries, the development of new technology and its integration into commercial bivalve hatcheries is important. Recirculation aquaculture systems (RASs) have several advantages: high densities of the species can be cultured resulting in a cost-effective production system; optimal temperature maximizes production and allows rapid turnover of the product; stable water quality improves growth rate and minimizes stress and potential loss by diseases. Pilot RAS systems were developed for seed rearing of oysters (Crassostrea gigas), scallops (Pecten maximus), mussels (Mytilus edulis) and clams (Ruditapes decussatus). Optimal feed addition and waste matrix were determined. Based on this, system flow rates were designed. Seed growth in the pilot RAS systems was compared at different renewal rates and with growth in flow-through systems (FTS). All four species can be reared in RAS and showed similar growth in RAS and in FTS or in RAS with a higher renewal rate. RAS can keep O₂, nitrogen and pH within the desired range. Temperature was generally higher in RAS than in FTS, probably due to heat induced by the pump circulating the water. The supply of sufficient amount of food in combination with a desire to reduce the renewal rate calls for use of concentrated feed in RAS.     

Alterations in the brain monoaminergic neurotransmitters of rainbow trout related to naphthalene exposure at the beginning of vitellogenesis

The contents of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5HT), and some related metabolites were studied in different brain regions of rainbow trout at two different stages of sexual maturation (at the beginning of vitellogenesis), after naphthalene (NAP) administration. The effects of NAP varied according to duration of exposure, brain region and vitellogenesis stage of the trout, and were more significant during previtellogenesis. The changes observed in DA metabolism were generally stimulatory after exposure for 3 h, and either stimulatory or inhibitory (depending on the brain regions) after exposure for 3 days to NAP. NA levels were altered by NAP in various brain regions, but only during previtellogenesis. With respect to 5HT, treatment with NAP reduced levels of the amine and/or its main metabolite in most of the brain regions studied, particularly 3 h after treatment. The results suggest that NAP might interfere with the processes regulating brain monoamine metabolism, either locally or indirectly by altering steroid feedback to brain centres, and thus disrupt endocrine control of reproductive development through the brain–pituitary axis.     

Current situation and the development of the dairy industry in Jordan,Saudi Arabia,and Syria

The development of the dairy industry plays an important role in the economy of Middle Eastern countries. Judged by its growth rate, the dairy industry is viewed as one of the most progressive food industries in the Middle East. During the early 1970s, countries established executive programs to promote dairy farming; the major objective was to attain self-sufficiency in milk production. A massive investment was set up for importing top class cattle, complying with top industry operating standards, and a simultaneous introduction of the latest technology in processing, packaging, and distributing. Milk production has grown tremendously at rates of 6.6% and 4.9% in Syria and Saudi Arabia, respectively, between 2002 and 2007, which resulted in these nations being almost self-sufficient. Regarding Jordan, milk production has not yet met this target. An excessive growth in the dairy industry is quite noticeable in this region with an expanding capacity for exports. The aim of this study is to show the most recent trends and future prospects of the dairy industries in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. It also attempts to investigate the drivers for the development of milk production, consumption, and trade in the region.     

Effects of composite antimicrobial peptide on growth performance and health in weaned piglets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of composite antimicrobial peptide (CAP) on growth performance and health status in weaned piglets. Over 28 days, 36 weaned piglets (body weight, 10.58 ± 0.99 kg) underwent three treatments: negative control (NC, basal diet), positive control (PC, basal diet + 20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin), and CAP treatment (CAP, basal diet with 400 mg/kg CAP). Average daily gain of piglets fed the CAP diet was greater (P < 0.05) than that of piglets fed the PC or NC diet during days 1–7, 8–14 and 15–21. Diarrhea rates of piglets fed the CAP or PC diet were lower (P < 0.05) than those of NC‐fed piglets during days 1–7. Apparent total tract digestibility for dry matter and crude ash in CAP‐fed piglets was greater (P < 0.05) than that of NC‐fed piglets. In the CAP group, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts were greater (P < 0.05) and Escherichia coli counts were lower (P < 0.05) than numbers for the NC group. Our results indicate that dietary CAP had beneficial effects on growth performance and health status in weaned piglets.     

采后UV-C处理对树莓贮藏保鲜效果的影响

以"September"树莓果实为材料,采用0.43、2.15、4.3和6.45 kJ/m2的UV-C进行辐照处理,并在4℃下贮藏,通过测定贮藏期间果实腐烂指数、失重率、可溶性固形物含量、总酚含量和抗氧化能力,研究UV-C处理对树莓果实保鲜效果的影响。结果表明,UV-C处理能够显著抑制果实腐烂指数、失重率的上升,减缓果实可溶性固形物含量、总酚含量的下降,增强果实的抗氧化能力,维持果实较好的品质。在4个UV-C处理剂量中,4.3 kJ/m2UV-C处理组果实的腐烂指数、失重率最低,可溶性固形物含量和总酚含量最高,抗氧化能力最强。适宜剂量的UV-C处理(4.3 kJ/m2)能维持树莓果实采后品质,增强抗性,延缓衰老。     

Nutritional evaluation of tender pods of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Canavalia maritima</Emphasis> of coastal sand dunes

This study has been performed to evaluate the nutritional, antinutritional and protein qualities of tender pods of Canavalia maritima, the coastal sand dune wild legume of southwest India. The proximal features, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antinutritional and protein qualities of fresh and pressure-cooked tender pods have been assessed. The crude protein was comparable to seeds of many edible legumes. Cooking significantly elevated the carbohydrates and calorific value of tender pods (P < 0.05), while crude fiber was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Minerals of fresh pods did not drain too much on cooking and K, Mg, Zn and Mn in fresh as well as cooked pods were comparable or higher than the NRC-NAS recommended pattern. Although cooking decreased the essential amino acids, threonine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and lysine in cooked pods were equivalent or higher than the FAO-WHO-UNU recommended pattern. The palmitoleic acid in fresh pods and eicosenoic acid in cooked pods were relatively high. Similarly, the essential fatty acids, linolenic acid and linoleic acid were confined to fresh and cooked pods respectively. The fresh pods were devoid of tannins and trypsin inhibitors. The total phenolics and hemagglutinin activity decreased substantially in cooked pods. The diet of pressure-cooked pods showed improvement of in vivo protein quality, elevation of growth parameters and positive nitrogen balance in rats. Overall, the pressurecooking of tender pods of C. maritima improved the nutritional qualities by lowering the hemagglutinin activity.     

灰木莲不同造林密度的幼林生长及形质性状效应研究

为探寻闽南山地灰木莲的合理种植密度,以促进林分高效生长,在闽南山地开展灰木莲6种不同初植密度试验,分析比较不同初植密度对5 a生幼林生长及形质性状的影响效应,结果表明：种植密度对灰木莲的幼林生长和形质性状存在显著性影响,种植密度越大,树高、胸径、枝下高、主干分叉性、侧枝密度、侧枝角度等性状表现越好,而种植密度对冠幅、主干通直度、侧枝粗细等性状无显著性影响。综合各项生长指标效应,灰木莲适宜的初植密度为1 667～3 333株·hm^-2(株行距1.5 m×2.0 m和2.0 m×3.0 m),能有效促进灰木莲快速生长以及形成较好的形质性状。     

带属绦虫线粒体基因组全序列生物信息学分析

通过利用生物生物信息学方法分析带属绦虫线粒体DNA(mtDNA)碱基组成、基因结构、密码子利用、基因变异及其在分子系统进化研究中的应用价值等,以期为带属虫种线粒体功能基因组学研究、分子分类学研究及其疾病诊断提供重要依据。从NCBI GenBank中下载已测序的6种带属绦虫线粒体基因组(mt genome)全序列,以细粒棘球绦虫mtDNA序列作为参考序列(外群),用ClustalX软件(1.83)(http://www2.ebi.ac.uk/clustal w/)进行多重序列比对,用DNAStar软件进行序列差异性分析,用MEGA4软件的邻接法(Neighbor-joining method)构建进化树,核苷酸进化距离算法用最大似然法(Maxi mumlikelihood method),氨基酸进化距离算法用泊松校正法(Poissoncorrection method),进化树检验用自展法(Bootstrap test)。tRNA和2个非编码区RNA二级结构预测分别使用软件ARWEN和RNAstructure Version 4.6。结果显示,带属绦虫mtDNA为双链闭环分子,为13.3~13.7 kb;4种碱基成分中,T含量最高(超过47%),C含量最低(低于9%);共有36个按照相同顺序排列的编码基因,其中蛋白质编码基因有12个,tRNA编码基因有22个(其中编码丝氨酸-tRNA和亮氨酸-tRNA的基因有2个,其余18种tRNA分子各有1个),rRNA编码基因有2个(包括1个大亚基和1个小亚基)。基因组结构紧凑,基因间存在重叠区域,如nad4L和nad4基因;除广泛使用ATG作为起始密码子编码蛋氨酸,部分基因如多头绦虫nad6基因用GTG作为蛋白质翻译的起始密码子。线粒体tRNA长度为58~76 nt,二级结构多数呈典型的三叶草结构,少数呈D-loop结构;2个线粒体rRNA亚基基因rrnL和rrnS被trnC基因分隔开;线粒体基因组有2个大的非编码区,1个长非编码区(LNR)和1个短非编码区(SNR);线粒体基因组中蛋白编码基因之间的差异为5.7%~28.9%,其中cox1和nad4L基因比较保守,而nad5和nad6则变异较大,进化较快。结果表明,根据线粒体基因组序列绘制的带属绦虫分子进化树表明,亚洲带绦虫(T.asiatica)和牛带绦虫(T.saginata)间的亲缘关系最近,成为姊妹种,而多头绦虫(T.multiceps)与前两者的亲缘关系比猪带绦虫(T.solium)与前两者的关系更近,但与虫种的生物学特征存在一定差异。     

GGR6号在棉花上应用效果研究

2003、2004连续两年研究了植物生长调节剂GGR6号在棉花上的应用效果。两年平均结果表明:GGR6号适宜浓度处理能促进棉花根系的发育,对增加侧根数、根干重、果枝数、铃重、单株结铃数均有一定的促进作用,并有一定的增产作用,其中以GGR6号40mg/kg的处理浓度效果较好,但作用效果都达不到显著水平