Effect of enzyme supplementation to dehulled lupin-based diets on growth, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and carcass composition of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

High inclusion levels of dehulled lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) in salmonid diets significantly decrease growth rates. This may be caused by the high concentrations of non‐starch polysaccharides including oligosaccharide (OS) in lupin. The antinutritive effects of OS have not yet been fully investigated in fish. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of enzyme supplementation of dehulled lupin‐based diets on the fish performance. There were two control diets: a fish meal‐based diet with no plant protein (FM) and a diet that contained 50% dehulled lupin (L). Four experimental diets based on diet L and containing four different exogenous enzyme supplements were used: diet L(E) (Energex^™); diet L(B) (Bio‐Feed^™ Pro); diet L(α) (Alpha galactosidase^™); and diet L(Mix), which contained all the enzymes. Fish were randomly stocked into tanks in duplicate groups of 38 fish, 16.58±0.169 (SE) g, and were fed twice a day for 6 weeks. The supplemented enzymes did not improve weight gain in fish fed lupin‐based diets. However, mixed enzyme significantly improved Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER). Apparent digestibility of DM, CP and GE significantly improved in fish‐fed L(E) diet. None of the supplemented enzymes affected digestive tract indices or carcass composition. Surprisingly, weight gain was significantly higher in fish‐fed L(α), L(E) and L(Mix) diets as compared with FM diet. Feed intake was significantly higher in fish‐fed L, L(α) and L(E) diets compared with the FM diet. It is concluded that storing of lupin kernel under a suitable condition may have partially hidden the positive effects of exogenous enzymes through activating the endogenous enzymes.     

Effect of sex and rearing system on the quality and mineral content of fiber from raeini cashmere goats

The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics and mineral content of the fiber from male and female cashmere goats raised under different management systems. Male and female Raeini cashmere goats (<1.5 years of age, n = 48) were selected from flocks raised at a government breeding station or raised commercially under either rural or nomadic conditions. The staple length, cashmere fiber diameter, coefficient of variation for fiber diameter, percentage of cashmere in a fleece, percentage of guard hair in a fleece and cashmere tenacity averaged 4.6 ±0.1 cm, 18.0 ±0.1 m, 20.9 ± 0.4%, 66.1 ± 1.5%, 33.8 ± 1.5% and 1.8 ± 0.2 gf/tex, respectively. The sulfur, copper and zinc content of the cashmere averaged 2.8 ± 0.1%, 0.00065 ± 0.00002% and 0.01276 ± 0.00025%, respectively. Rearing method significantly affected staple length, coefficient of variation of fiber diameter, cashmere tenacity and copper content. Males had a higher coefficient of variation of fiber diameter and cashmere tenacity than females (P < 0.05).     

The effect of different dietary inclusion levels of rutin (a flavonoid) on some liver enzyme activities and oxidative stress indices in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) exposed to Oxytetracycline

The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with five treatments each with three replicates. In each treatment, 30 fish (10 per replicate) with an average body weight of 30 ± 0.6 g were randomly allocated to 60‐L tanks. Treatments consisted of a control (a diet without rutin and oxytetracycline (OTC)), an OTC treatment (a diet free from rutin and containing 75 mg kg^?1 body weight OTC) and the (OTC + rutin) treatments including diets with different levels of rutin, 500 (R‐500 + OTC), 1000 (R‐1000 + OTC) and 2000 (R‐2000 + OTC) ppm and 75 mg kg^?1 body weight per day OTC which were fed to fish for 28 days. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities in the blood serum after the OTC treatment were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in the control. After the three (OTC+rutin) treatments, the AST and ALT activities were not significantly different from the control. The level of glucose in the blood serum was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in all treatments as compared to the OTC treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in red erythrocyte lysates were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced after OTC treatment in comparison with the control. After the three (OTC+rutin) treatments, the values of these indices were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the OTC treatment, in particular for the R‐1000 + OTC treatment. It seems that rutin, as a non‐enzymatic inhibitor, is capable of preventing damage to the liver tissue and reducing oxidative stress.     

Molecular Diagnostics, Taxonomy, and Phylogeny of the Stem Nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci Species Complex Based on the Sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer-rDNA

ABSTRACT The stem nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci is of great economic importance worldwide as a parasite of agricultural crops and horticultural plants. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA from 23 populations of the D. dipsaci complex from various host plants were amplified and sequenced. Seven previously studied populations were also included in the study. The phylogenetic analysis of the full ITS and ITS2 sequence alignments using minimum evolution, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference under the complex model of DNA evolution revealed trees with two main clades: (i) D. dipsaci sensu stricto with diploid chromosome numbers and comprising most isolates from agricultural, ornamental, and several wild plants, and (ii) Ditylenchus spp. with polyploid chromosome numbers, reproductively isolated from diploid populations, and subdivided into six subclades ("giant race" from Vicia faba, Ditylenchus species parasitizing various Asteraceae, and a Ditylenchus sp. from Plantago maritima). Using the energy minimization approach and comparative sequence analysis, it has been found that the secondary structure of ditylenchid ITS2 is organized in three main domains. The importance of knowledge on the RNA structure for phylogenetic analysis is discussed. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR with SYBR green dye I with a species specific primer have been developed for detection and quantification of D. dipsaci sensu stricto Validation tests revealed a rather high correlation between real numbers of fourth-stage juveniles of the stem nematodes in a sample and expected numbers detected by real-time PCR. Problems of accuracy of quantification are discussed.     

Quantitative and financial evaluation of non-timber forest products (case study: Zemkan basin forests,West of Iran)

Although Zagros forests in western Iran lack industrial timber value due to the severe climate and socioeconomics problems, non-timber products are of great value and importance due to their high economic potential and also their potential to improve the welfare of forest-dwelling and forest-fringe villagers. This study was done in the forests of the Zemkan basin, an important part of central Zagros forests, Iran, to recognize the non-timber forest products (NTFP_S), investigate their potential economic value and role in people’s livelihood. Data, collected using forest cruising, participatory observations, interviews with indigenous and local persons and experts, identified wild pistachio resin, wild pistachio fruit, oak fruit and oak syrup (Shokeh manna) among the non-timber products in this basin with total potential harvestable NTFPs of 77.16, 771.602, 13248.68, and 1324.868 tons per year, respectively. The economic rent from NTFPs is 33 US$/ha/year and its total expected values with consideration of real interest rate when the exploiter invests the capital in the bank (6.4 %) and when money is borrowed from the bank to execute the incorporated projects (8.4 %) are $516/ha and $393/ha, respectively. Furthermore, families’ economic share from potential profit of NTFPs is annually $601 per household. In addition wild pistachio resin has the highest share of the total potential profit of NTFPs and its equal to 51 % of the total of potential profit of NTFPs. Therefore, it is suggested that decisions be made to increase the infrastructure and strengthen the local selling market to enhance the cash income from NTFPs. Forest participatory management practices are suggested to organize and improve traditional use of the forests.     

Super-compressible foamlike carbon nanotube films

We report that freestanding films of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes exhibit super-compressible foamlike behavior. Under compression, the nanotubes collectively form zigzag buckles that can fully unfold to their original length upon load release. Compared with conventional low-density flexible foams, the nanotube films show much higher compressive strength, recovery rate, and sag factor, and the open-cell nature of the nanotube arrays gives excellent breathability. The nanotube films present a class of open-cell foam structures, consisting of well-arranged one-dimensional units (nanotube struts). The lightweight, highly resilient nanotube films may be useful as compliant and energy-absorbing coatings.     

The effect of multiplex-PCR-assessed major pathogens causing subclinical mastitis on somatic cell profiles

The major pathogens causing mastitis were evaluated by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) with self-designed primers in four quarters of the first, third, and fifth parities in industrial, semi-industrial, and traditional dairy cattle farms in Iran. With the incidence of infection in the quarters by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae, the mean log somatic cell count (log SCC) increased from 5.06 to 5.77. The smallest changes occurred with Escherichia coli. Contagious pathogens, when compared with environmental pathogens, were more prevalent and common and created more profound quantitative and qualitative changes in SCC profiles. The second part of the study surveyed the diversity of contaminating pathogens and their effect on quantitative and qualitative profiles of somatic cells. M-PCR was used to determine the absence (M-PCR(-)) and presence of one (M-PCR(+1)), two (M-PCR(+2)), and three (M-PCR(+3)) major pathogens in raw milk samples. Quarter log SCC increased from 5.06 (for M-PCR(-1)) to 5.5 (for M-PCR(+1)), 5.7 (for M-PCR(+2)), and 6 (for M-PCR(+3)). Percent changes in polymorphonuclears (PMNs) were not significant between different quarters and parities but were significant between different farms in terms of pathogen diversity (P?相似文献