Effects of diet supplementation with white tea and methionine on lipid metabolism of gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata)

A growth trial was performed with gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata) to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with white tea and methionine on fish performance and lipid metabolism. For that purpose, four diets were formulated: a fish meal–based diet (Control) and diets identical to the control diet but supplemented with 2.9 % white tea (Tea), 0.3 % methionine (Met) or 2.9 % white tea plus 0.3 % methionine (Tea + Met). Growth performance and feed efficiency parameters, whole-body and liver composition, plasma metabolites concentration and liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malic enzyme (ME) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activities were determined. Feed intake was higher in fish fed methionine–supplemented diets, whereas this parameter and growth was decreased in fish fed white tea supplementation. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by diet composition. Plasma HDL cholesterol and total lipids concentration were higher in fish fed white tea–supplemented diets. Whole-body lipid, plasma glucose, liver glycogen concentration and liver G6PDH, ME and FAS activities were lower in fish fed white tea–supplemented diets. Results of the present study indicate that methionine seems to act as a feed attractant in diets for sea bream juveniles. Additionally, white tea is an important modulator of lipid metabolism in sea bream juveniles.     

Anatomical description of arterial segments of the spleen of deer

With 2 figures SUMMARY: The anatomosurgical segmentation of the arteries of the spleen was studied in 31 deer of the species Mazama gouazoubira and Blastocerus dichotomus by means of vascular injection with latex and vinyl acetate and radiographic examination. The arteria lienalis penetrated through the hilus lienis in 87% of the cases, whereas an extrahilar artery was present in the other cases. An extraparenchymal division of the lineal artery into two, three or four segmental arteries was observed in 74% of the cases. Anastomoses between intraparenchymal arterial branches were rare and of a reduced calibre.     

Real‐time quantitative PCR‐based detection of Coxiella burnetii in unpasteurized cow's milk sold for human consumption

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic pathogen with a worldwide distribution that is responsible for Q fever in humans. It is a highly infectious bacterium that can be transmitted from cattle to humans through the consumption of unpasteurized milk. We report the molecular identification of C. burnetii in raw cow's milk being sold directly for human consumption in Brazil without official inspection or pasteurization. One hundred and twelve samples of raw milk were analysed by real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and C. burnetii was detected in 3.57% (4/112) of the samples at a concentration ranging from 125 to 404 bacteria per millilitre. The identification of this zoonotic pathogen in raw milk sold directly for human consumption is a public health concern since C. burnetii can be transmitted through the oral route. This result indicates that health education and other preventive measures should be officially implemented in Brazil to prevent the spread of infection. To our knowledge, this is the first qPCR‐based detection of C. burnetii in raw milk samples from cows sold in Brazil that do not undergo official inspection or pasteurization.     

Models for predicting protein requirements for meat quail

Three experiments were carried out to determine the crude protein requirements for maintenance (CPm) and weight gain (CPg) of meat quail and to develop protein‐requirement prediction models. Experiment 1 was conducted to determine CPm by the nitrogen‐balance technique. The regression of nitrogen balance on nitrogen intake revealed a CPm requirement of 2.94 g/kg^0.75/day. Experiment 2 was aimed at determining CPm by the comparative‐slaughter technique. Retained nitrogen (RN) and nitrogen intake (NI) were quantified considering the metabolic weight of the birds. The linear regression of RN on NI provided a CPm estimate of 6.63 g/kg^0.75/day. Experiment 3 was conducted to determine CPg. The regression of body nitrogen from the carcasses on fasted body weight revealed CPg estimates of 407.68 (0–7 days), 501.76 (8–14 days), 470.40 (0–14 days), 517.44 (15–21 days), 627.20 (22–28 days), 423.36 (29–35 days), and 517.44 mg/g (15–35 days). The protein‐requirement prediction models developed for meat quail aged 0–7, 8–14, 0–14, 15–21, 22–28, 29–35, and 15–35 days were CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0.408.G; CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0.502.G; CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0.470.G; CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0,517.G; CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0.627.G; CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0.423.G; CP = 2.94.W^0.75 + 0.517.G, respectively, where: W^0.75 =  metabolic weight (kg), and G =  daily weight gain (g).     

Beyond host specificity: the biotechnological exploitation of chitolectin from teratocytes of Toxoneuron nigriceps to control non-permissive hosts

Journal of Pest Science - The virulence factors (VF) that parasitoids use to regulate the growth and development of their hosts have potential as new events in transgenic plants. VFs are promising...     

Demographic threats to the sustainability of Brazil nut exploitation

A comparative analysis of 23 populations of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) across the Brazilian, Peruvian, and Bolivian Amazon shows that the history and intensity of Brazil nut exploitation are major determinants of population size structure. Populations subjected to persistent levels of harvest lack juvenile trees less than 60 centimeters in diameter at breast height; only populations with a history of either light or recent exploitation contain large numbers of juvenile trees. A harvesting model confirms that intensive exploitation levels over the past century are such that juvenile recruitment is insufficient to maintain populations over the long term. Without management, intensively harvested populations will succumb to a process of senescence and demographic collapse, threatening this cornerstone of the Amazonian extractive economy.     

A review of earthworm impact on soil function and ecosystem services

Biodiversity is responsible for the provision of many ecosystem services; human well‐being is based on these services, and consequently on biodiversity. In soil, earthworms represent the largest component of the animal biomass and are commonly termed ‘ecosystem engineers’. This review considers the contribution of earthworms to ecosystem services through pedogenesis, development of soil structure, water regulation, nutrient cycling, primary production, climate regulation, pollution remediation and cultural services. Although there has been much research into the role of earthworms in soil ecology, this review demonstrates substantial gaps in our knowledge related in particular to difficulties in identifying the effects of species, land use and climate. The review aims to assist people involved in all aspects of land management, including conservation, agriculture, mining or other industries, to obtain a broad knowledge of earthworms and ecosystem services.     

Field-effect tunneling transistor based on vertical graphene heterostructures

An obstacle to the use of graphene as an alternative to silicon electronics has been the absence of an energy gap between its conduction and valence bands, which makes it difficult to achieve low power dissipation in the OFF state. We report a bipolar field-effect transistor that exploits the low density of states in graphene and its one-atomic-layer thickness. Our prototype devices are graphene heterostructures with atomically thin boron nitride or molybdenum disulfide acting as a vertical transport barrier. They exhibit room-temperature switching ratios of ≈50 and ≈10,000, respectively. Such devices have potential for high-frequency operation and large-scale integration.     

Temporal stability of vigor in rubber tree genotypes in the pre- and post-tapping phases using different methods

Vigor is important in rubber tree cropping because of its association with early latex exploitation, resistance to wind breakage and wood production. The objective of the present study was to assess the vigor stability of 25 rubber tree genotypes in the pre- and post-tapping phases using different methods. A randomized block design was used with three replications and six plants per plot. Seven annual trunk girth increments were used in the pre-tapping and six in the post-tapping phases. Stability was assessed by the methods by Wricke, Eberhart and Russell, Lin and Binns, and the AMMI statistical model (Model Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction). The association among the different stability parameters ωι, , Pi, and IPCA 1 was verified by the Spearman correlation. Joint ANOVA showed highly significant effects for genotypes, years, and genotypes × years interaction in the two phases. In the pre-tapping phase, the IAC 311 genotype was stable in all the methods and in the post-tapping presented stability in Eberhart and Russell, Wricke, and AMMI. In the post-tapping phase, the IAC 312 genotype was stable in Eberhart and Russell, AMMI and Lin and Binns. While in the pre-tapping the correlations were positive and significant among all the parameters, in the post-tapping it only occurred between ωι with and ωι with IPCA 1. In the stability assessment of rubber tree vigor, the association among the methods depended on the assessment period. Stability methods based on different principles can show agreement in identifying stable genotypes in rubber tree vigor. The tapping procedure affected vigor stability of rubber trees.