Stochastic modeling of production risk and technical efficiency of Thai koi (Anabas testudineus) farming in Northern Bangladesh

Thai koi is one of the high commercially valued farm fishes which have expanded tremendously in the northern part of Bangladesh. However, despite its impressive growth in the initial years, output of the industry is highly volatile across different years and farms. This research, following the Just and Pope framework, has made use of Kumbhakar’s (2002 Kumbhakar, S.C. (2002) Specification and estimation of production risk, risk preferences, and technical efficiency. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 84, 8–22.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) extended stochastic frontier model (SFM) to estimate production risk and technical efficiency (TE) in Thai koi farming. Results show that feed is the most important input significantly influencing production. Zeolite and pesticide appear to be risk-reducing, while fingerlings, labor, feed and salt turn out to be risk-increasing inputs. The inefficiency model indicates that labor and pond area significantly reduce the technical inefficiency. Feed, fingerling and lime also act as TE-improving factors. Education of farmers improves TE, while experience, training and frequency of water change do not impact the TE. The mean TE scores are 0.73 and 0.96 for the flexible risk estimate and conventional SFM estimates, respectively. TE values appear to become exaggerated when production risk is excluded from the model. SFM recognizes that risk is involved in Thai koi farming that causes lower TE.     

Variation in the Fatty Acid Composition Between and Within Two Mantis Shrimp Species,Harpiosquilla harpax and Miyakea nepa: Impact of Season and Sex

ABSTRACT

Harpiosquilla harpax and Miyakea nepa are two out of 400 marine crustaceans commonly known as mantis shrimp. Mantis shrimp are commercially valuable and can be found in fish markets of some Mediterranean and many Asian countries. This study focused on a comparative analysis of variation throughout the year in regards to proximate and total fatty acid composition in the muscle of male and female H. harpax and M. nepa. The most abundant fatty acids identified in the muscle of both species were C16:0, C18:0, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3), and C20:4n-6. Results of this study revealed that the muscle fatty acid profiles of H. harpax and M. nepa were not significantly different (p > 0.05), except for C14:0, C16:0, C22:0, and DHA amounts, and were mostly influenced by sex within each sampling month. Generally, the muscle of H. harpax contained higher (p < 0.05) levels of DHA than the muscle of M. nepa. The male mantis shrimp, within each species and most of the sampling months, appeared to have higher (p < 0.05) DHA, total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratio compared to the females. Both species could be considered as a good source of n-3 PUFA in the human diet.     

Polo‐like kinase 1 inhibition results in misaligned chromosomes and aberrant spindles in porcine oocytes during the first meiotic division

Polo‐like kinase 1 (Plk1), a type of serine/threonine protein kinase, has been implicated in various functions in the regulation of mitotic processes. However, these kinase's roles in meiotic division are not fully understood, particularly in the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes. In this study, the expression and spatiotemporal localization of Plk1 were initially assessed in the meiotic process of pig oocytes by utilizing Western blotting with immunofluorescent staining combined with confocal microscopy imaging technique. The results showed that Plk1 was expressed and exhibited a dynamic subcellular localization throughout the meiotic process. After germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), Plk1 was detected prominently around the condensed chromosomes and subsequently exhibited a similar subcellular localization to α‐tubulin throughout subsequent meiotic phases, with particular enrichment being observed near spindle poles at MI and MII. Inhibition of Plk1 via a highly selective inhibitor, GSK461364, led to the failure of first polar body extrusion in porcine oocytes, with the majority of the treated oocytes being arrested in GVBD. Further subcellular structure examination results indicated that Plk1 inhibition caused the great majority of oocytes with spindle abnormalities and chromosome misalignment during the first meiotic division. The results of this study illustrate that Plk1 is critical for the first meiotic division in porcine oocytes through its influence on spindle organization and chromosome alignment, which further affects the ensuing meiotic cell cycle progression.     

First molecular detection of porcine bocavirus in Malaysia

Several strains of porcine bocaviruses have been reported worldwide since their first detection in Sweden in 2009. Subsequently, the virus has been reported to be associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory signs in weaner and grower pigs. Although Malaysia is host to a self-sufficient swine livestock industry, there is no study that describes porcine bocavirus in the country. This report is the first to describe porcine bocavirus (PBoV) in Malaysian swine herds. PBoV was identified in various tissues from sick and runt pigs using the conventional PCR method with primers targeting conserved regions encoding for the nonstructural protein (NS1) gene. Out of 103 samples tested from 17 pigs, 32 samples from 15 pigs were positive for porcine bocavirus. In addition, a higher detection rate was identified from mesenteric lymph nodes (52.9%), followed by tonsil (37.0%), and lungs (33.3%). Pairwise comparison and phylogenetic analyses based on a 658-bp fragment of NS1 gene revealed that the Malaysian PBoV strains are highly similar to PBoV3 isolated in Minnesota, USA. The presence of porcine bocavirus in Malaysia and their phylogenetic bond was marked for the first time by this study. Further studies will establish the molecular epidemiology of PBoV in Malaysia and clarify pathogenicity of the local isolates.     

The effects of growth factors on proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells from Guangxi Bama mini‐pig

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different growth factors on the proliferation of Bama mini‐pig spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro. The growth factors glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), GDNF family receptor alpha‐1 (GFRα1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were investigated. The SSCs were seeded on SIM mouse embryo‐derived thioguanine‐ and ouabain‐resistant (STO) feeder layers. Cultivation of the cells were subjected to a factorial design of the growth factors GDNF + bFGF, GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1, LIF + bFGF and LIF + bFGF + GFRα1. The SSCs could propagate for 25 passages in the medium adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1, 22 passages in the medium adding GDNF + bFGF, 6 passages in the medium adding LIF + bFGF, or LIF + bFGF + GFRα1. qRT‐PCR analysis showed that the highest mRNA expression levels of NANOG, POU5F, DDX4, GFRα1 and UCHL1 were detected in the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1. The SSCs from the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1 also showed UCHL1‐, DBA‐ and CDH1‐positive staining. Moreover, Stra8 and Scp3 expression, and haploid peak were detected after induction of the SSCs from the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFRα1. In conclusion, pig SSCs could be maintained for long term in the presence of GDNF, bFGF, and GFRα1.     

Conditioning time and sodium bentonite affect pellet quality,growth performance,nutrient retention and intestinal morphology of growing broiler chickens

ABSTRACT

1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of conditioning times and processed sodium bentonite (PSB)-based pellet binder (G. Bind?) on pellet quality, performance, small intestine morphology, and nutrient retention in growing broiler chickens (d 11–24).

2. A total of 540, one-day-old male broiler chicks were fed a commercial starter diet (d 1–10). On day 11, birds were assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement including two conditioning times (2 and 4 min) and three levels of PSB (0, 7.5 and 15 g/kg) with six replicates of 15 chicks each. Feed intake and weight gain were recorded to calculate growth performance. The jejunal segment and excreta samples were collected to determine intestinal morphology and nutrient retention, respectively.

3. Diets produced with 2 min conditioning time and containing 15 g/kg PSB increased (P < 0.05) pellet durability index and hardness. Conditioning time and PSB levels had no significant effect on growth performance. The inclusion of PSB to broilers diet increased (P < 0.05) energy usage of the pelleting machine. Chickens fed the diet conditioned for 2 min and containing 15 g/kg PSB had the lowest (P < 0.05) relative jejunal length. Two minutes conditioning of diets containing 15 g/kg PSB increased (P < 0.05) apparent metabolisable energy retention in broilers.

4. It was concluded that 2 min conditioning of diet containing 15 g/kg PSB improved pellet quality and nutrient retention of broiler chickens, while the main effects of conditioning time and PSB levels were controversial in most evaluated parameters.     

Comparison of Nutritional Value,Antioxidant Potential,and Risk Assessment of the Mulberry (Morus) Fruits

Ethnomedicinal uses, chemical composition (major nutrients, essential/toxic metals, phytochemical constituents), and antioxidant properties of the fruits of five Morus species (M. alba, M. laevigata, M. macroura, M. nigra, and M. serrata) were evaluated in this study. Standard methodology was used for the analysis of the nutrients, major/trace metals, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential of the fruits. Highest average contents of the proteins (13.1%), fats (12.4%), fibers (8.02%), and carbohydrates (80.5%) were found in M. macroura, M. laevigata, M. nigra, and M. serrata, respectively. Among the metals, highest concentration in the fruits was shown by K (1080–1230 mg/kg), followed by Mg (84.4–207 mg/kg), Ca (54.8–146 mg/kg), Fe (13.6–59.0 mg/kg), Na (5.43–14.8 mg/kg), and Zn (2.15–5.57 mg/kg). The phytochemicals and antioxidant activities were measured in the water and acetone extracts of the fruits. Relatively higher total phenolics (85.6 mg GAE/100 g, FW), flavonoids (85.8 mg RE/100 g, FW), flavonols (99.8 mg RE/100 g, FW), and ascorbic acid (4.12 mg AAE/100 g, FW) contents were found in M. nigra, which also revealed significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition (93.8%). Considerably higher OH radical and H₂O₂ scavenging activities were observed in M. macroura and M. alba, respectively. Comparatively higher ferrous ions chelating activity (37.8%) was noted in M. serrata, which also showed highest value for phosphomolybdenum assay (183 µM AAE/100 g, FW). Highest ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (69.9 µM GAE/100 g, FW) was found in M. leavigata. The Morus fruits were a good source of the nutrients, minerals, and phyotchemicals along with superior antioxidant potential. Health risk assessment showed no significant non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic health risk associated with the consumption of these fruits.     

Subcutaneous, but not intratracheal administration of the TLR9 agonist, CpG DNA transiently reduces parainfluenza-3 virus shedding in newborn lambs

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing CpG motifs signal through TLR9 and activate innate immunity resulting in protection against a variety of parasitic, bacterial and viral pathogens in mouse models. However, few studies have demonstrated protection in humans and large animals. In the present investigations, we evaluated protection by CpG ODN in a parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) virus infection in neonatal lambs. Subcutaneous (SC) injection of CpG ODN induced high levels of 2′5′-A synthetase and significantly reduced PI-3 virus shedding in newborn lambs. Furthermore, pre-treatment of newborn lambs with SC CpG ODN 2 days, but not 6 days prior to the virus challenge was protective. In contrast, intratracheal (IT) administration of CpG ODN induced 2′5′-A synthetase but had no significant impact on PI-3 virus shedding in nasal secretions. We conclude that a systemic administration of CpG ODN and the timing of the treatment are critical for the protection of neonatal lambs against a respiratory viral infection.     

Applications of polysaccharides (β-glucan) for physiological and biochemical parameters for evaluation rice tolerance under salinity stress at seedling stage

Salt stress is considered to be the most important abiotic stress and is the main problem in the interruption of the metabolic processes of plants, thereby limiting crop production. The present study was carried out to examine the effects of exogenously applied mushroom polysaccharides (β-glucan) on the growth of two rice varieties of Oryza sativa L. (MRQ74 and MR269) seedlings grown in vitro in 200 Mm sodium chloride (NaCl). Growth characteristics, including shoot and root height, and fresh and dry weight of salt-stressed rice seedlings were inhibited by sodium chloride treatment, the degree of which depends on the rice variety. The negative effects of salinity stress resulted in an imbalance of N, K⁺ Na⁺ and Na/K ratios and biochemical analysis activities a degradation of chlorophyll content in the plants. However, treatment with exogenously applied polysaccharides (β-glucan) ameliorated the stress generated by NaCl and improved the parameters mentioned above. The significance of the changes in growth and metabolism to salt stress tolerance in rice seedlings are discussed in the paper.