The potential for aquaculture of the bearded horse mussel (Modiolus barbatus) and Noah’s Ark shell (Arca noae) in southern Croatia

To assess the potential of the bearded horse mussel (Modiolus barbatus) and Noah’s Ark shell (Arca noae) for aquaculture in southern Croatia, we analyzed their survival and growth rates under two experimental conditions—suspended culture and on-bottom culture. Furthermore, we investigated feeding on zooplankton by these two species in suspended culture conditions and compared them with previously published results of their feeding on zooplankton in the natural benthic environment. Experimental studies were conducted in Mali Ston Bay (Adriatic Sea) from December 2009 to December 2010. Differences were observed in terms of survival of tagged M. barbatus and A. noae—specimens of M. barbatus exhibited much better survival rates both in suspended culture and in on-bottom cages than did A. noae. Growth of A. noae under both culture conditions was essentially negligible, while M. barbatus grew several times faster in suspended culture than on the bottom. Values for the growth constant K and L _inf for M. barbatus in suspended culture were 0.45 year^?1 and 55.9 mm, while corresponding values for on-bottom culture were 0.09 year^?1 and 58.6 mm, respectively. Zooplankters were present in the stomachs of 86.3 % of M. barbatus and 86.4 % of A. noae. Most abundant taxa were bivalve larvae followed by tintinnids, copepods, unidentified eggs and gastropod larvae. In conclusion, this study clearly shows that M. barbatus is a promising candidate for suspended aquaculture in southern Croatia.     

Humic Substances as Microalgal Biostimulants—Implications for Microalgal Biotechnology

Humic substances (HS) act as biostimulants for terrestrial photosynthetic organisms. Their effects on plants are related to specific HS features: pH and redox buffering activities, (pseudo)emulsifying and surfactant characteristics, capacity to bind metallic ions and to encapsulate labile hydrophobic molecules, ability to adsorb to the wall structures of cells. The specific properties of HS result from the complexity of their supramolecular structure. This structure is more dynamic in aqueous solutions/suspensions than in soil, which enhances the specific characteristics of HS. Therefore, HS effects on microalgae are more pronounced than on terrestrial plants. The reported HS effects on microalgae include increased ionic nutrient availability, improved protection against abiotic stress, including against various chemical pollutants and ionic species of potentially toxic elements, higher accumulation of value-added ingredients, and enhanced bio-flocculation. These HS effects are similar to those on terrestrial plants and could be considered microalgal biostimulant effects. Such biostimulant effects are underutilized in current microalgal biotechnology. This review presents knowledge related to interactions between microalgae and humic substances and analyzes the potential of HS to enhance the productivity and profitability of microalgal biotechnology.     

‘Net-System’ Models Versus Traditional Models in NWFP Marketing: The Case of Mushrooms

Marketing strategies for successful non-wood forest product (NWFP) commercialization are important especially in those rural economies where NWFPs represent a considerable source of income for small and medium-scale forest-based enterprises. Two different organisational models in mushrooms marketing—a ‘traditional approach’ and a ‘net-system approach’—are compared through a case-study research approach. The first model is usually based on single large-scale enterprises producing large quantities of standardized, mass-market oriented products; its main commercial goal is the improvement of the value-chain from producer to end-users, with no special links or integration between the production area and the producers. The second, quite new approach is based on several integrated small and medium-scale rural-based enterprises supplying relatively limited quantities of high quality products, oriented to niche markets. In this case, product specialty identification, complementary actions, integration, and clustering among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the same production area are the most important goals. In the case studies, both organisational models have proved to be feasible and working with respect to the respective goals. Traditional large-scale enterprises, based on vertical integration and a short value chain, can achieve substantial economic performance; however, these are unlikely to have a significant positive impact on the socio-economic local context and are threatened by high business risk (mainly due to its strong specialization on a ‘climate-dependent’ NWFP). The analysed forest-based business model founded on networking, which involves not only forest-based SMEs but also other institutional, economic, and social actors, has proved to be not only economically viable and less risky with respect to the traditional model, but also more equitable in distribution of benefits, and effective in stimulating the local economy as a whole, integrated system based on NWFPs and related environmental services.

Regional variation in shea butter lipid and triterpene composition in four African countries

The triacylglycerol, fatty acid, and polycyclic triterpene compositions of shea butter were determined for 150 samples from the sub-Saharan countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Uganda. The compositional profiles showed high variability in all three classes of compounds. Shea butter is made up mainly of four triglycerides (TAG) differing in carbon number (CN) by two, starting from CN 50 to CN 56. The greatest source of variation was in the CN 54 TAG. Shea butter is characterized by 16 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in greatly varying proportion, the major ones being the even homologues in the range of C(16)-C(20). Oleic acid is dominant in Ugandan provenances, whereas stearic acid is dominant in West African shea butter. Acetyl and cinnamyl polycyclic triterpene means for countries ranged from 3.69 to 12.57%, with the highest values found in Nigerian provenances. Statistical comparisons of fat composition show that the geographic distance between shea populations is reflected in the degree of separation of their chemical profiles.     

Decline of maternal antibodies to small ruminant lentivirus in goat kids

We carried out this study to determine for how long small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV)‐specific antibodies can be detected by three commercial ELISA kits in goat kids after suckling infected does in field conditions. Forty‐one kids born to SRLV‐seropositive asymptomatic does were blood sampled prior to colostrum consumption, and then weekly for 6 months in total. The sera were screened with three commercial ELISA kits: whole‐virus ELISA (wELISA), recombinant transmembrane and capsid antigen ELISA (TM/CA‐ELISA), and surface antigen ELISA (SU‐ELISA). All but one kid were seronegative in all three ELISAs right after birth. At the age of 1 week all kids turned seropositive in wELISA, 39 kids (95%) in TM/CA‐ELISA, and 35 kids (85%) in SU‐ELISA. All seropositive kids turned seronegative in wELISA by the 15th week, and in SU‐ELISA by the 19th week (median of 8 weeks in both ELISA), whereas in TM/CA‐ELISA five kids (13% of 39 initially seropositive) were still seropositive at the age of 6 months (median of 11 weeks). Antibody levels at the age of 1 week proved significantly linked to the duration of maternal antibodies in all three ELISAs and could be employed to predict for how long maternal antibodies would remain detectable.     

NWFP&;S Marketing: Lessons Learned and New Development Paths from Case Studies in Some European Countries

The paper examines key factors affecting the marketing of various types of Non-Wood Forest Products and Services (NWFP&S) through a comparative analysis of case studies in Europe, according to the main results of Working Group 3 (WG3) of the COST Action E30 ‘Economic integration of urban consumers’ demand and rural forestry production. Seventeen Italian case studies have been analysed in addition to the COST Action E30 experiences. Products and services are classified within a conceptual framework developed by the WG3 and described in detail according to three main categories: mass-produced, specialized and complementary NWFP&S. Especially this latter category can play a relevant role in improving the profitability of small and medium-scale forest-based enterprises and in maintaining competitiveness of the forest product-consumer chain in rural areas, but new marketing strategies are necessary for commercial success. Differentiation, integration and creation of networking among both private and public actors and the development of the so-called ‘territorial marketing’ are considered the most important tools for the role of complementary NWFP&S in improving the economic value of small-scale forestry in marginal areas.     

Correction to: Biodegradation of humic substances by microscopic filamentous fungi: chromatographic and spectroscopic proxies

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Incorrect and incomplete wording: Funding information. The study was funded by the RFBR research project no. 18–016-00078. Correct and complete wording:...     

Characterization of the glycoprotein D gene products of equine herpesvirus 1 using a prokaryotic cell expression vector

The gene encoding equine herpesvirus 1 (equine abortion virus; EHV-1) glycoprotein D was engineered into the prokaryotic vector pEX, and expressed as a β-galactosidase fusion product, which was recognized by pooled equine sera and anti-EHV-1 rabbit sera. Antibodies raised against the EHV-1 gD fusion product identified strong bands in infected cells at 66 and 68 K and at 138 K in purified virus, thus characterizing the several forms of this major envelope glycoprotein which is an important candidate for inclusion in subunit vaccines.     

Cloning and expression of the superoxide dismutase gene of the feline strain of Porphyromonas gingivalis: immunological recognition of the protein by cats with periodontal disease

Recent evidence suggests that feline members of the genus Porphyromonas are of consequence in periodontal disease in cats. Several possible virulence factors from feline strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis have been described that have similarities to those of human P. gingivalis. Both human and feline strains of P. gingivalis produce superoxide dismutase (SOD) which has been proposed as modulator of the inflammatory response during infection. The objective of this study was to clone the superoxide dismutase gene of feline P. gingivalis, to compare the characteristics of its product with that of the native enzyme and to determine its immunoreactivity in cats with periodontal disease. The sod gene of the feline strain Veterinary Pathology and Bacteriology (VPB) 3457 of P. gingivalis was amplified by PCR and cloned in frame with the alpha-peptide of the LacZ gene of E. coli in plasmid pUC19. This construct expressed SOD activity in E. coli with characteristics similar to those of the native SOD enzyme of P. gingivalis human strain 381 and the parent feline strain VPB 3457. The recombinant SOD had an apparent molecular weight of 54,700+/-1300 (S.E.M.) and was inactivated by 5mM hydrogen peroxide but not by 2mM KCN. There was a significant association (P=0.005) between the immunoreactivity of cats to P. gingivalis VPB 3457 soluble whole cell proteins on immunoblots and their responsiveness to the SOD protein. This suggests that cats showing a marked serum responsiveness to P. gingivalis itself, react to the SOD enzyme and further supports the role of feline P. gingivalis in periodontal disease.