Application of non-invasive techniques to differentiate sea bass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicentrarchus labrax</Emphasis>, L. 1758) quality cultured under different conditions

European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is one of the main species cultured in Europe. In this study, non-invasive techniques such as visible-near infrared spectroscopy and dynamometric analysis were used to discriminate concrete tank–cultured sea bass from sea cage–cultured sea bass. A total of 198 samples were collected at six time points from 3 Italian fish farms. A partial least squares analysis was conducted on individual animals at 48 and 96 h post-mortem to determine whether textural and spectral parameters can discriminate between concrete tank– and sea cage–reared sea bass. The results of this analysis demonstrated that spectral measurements better discriminate individual animals at 48 h post-mortem (87% in the independent test) with respect to 96 h post-mortem (66.7% in the independent test). Differences in texture were observed between the two groups of fish, but the texture changed in the time. The texture in sea cage–cultured fish showed higher values of measured force (N) with respect to fish reared in concrete tanks at 48 h post-mortem. Instead, opposite results were observed at 96 h post-mortem. Fillet colour were influenced by both farm and rearing condition.     

Heritability of muscular cathepsin B activity in Italian Large White pigs

Previous studies suggested that proteolysis lasting for many months after slaughtering could be responsible for excessive softness in dry-cured hams. Also, the long-term activity of muscle proteinases is mainly attributed to cathepsin B. Should an additive genetic component exist for the activity level of cathepsin B, such information could be used as a selection criterion for improving meat quality for dry-cured ham production. Data on the growth rate, carcass composition, and meat quality of 234 Large White pigs raised in a test station under a &lsquo| quasi ad libitum ' nutritive level and slaughtered at around 160 kg live weight were analysed using a blup - mt -animal model. The cathepsin B activity level showed a moderate heritability (0.23–0.28) in all analyses, and negative genetic correlations with daily gain (− 0.34 to − 0.52) and backfat thickness (− 0.40 to − 0.86), but, with large standard errors. These results suggest that a genetic component exists in explaining the variability of the cathepsin B activity level. Further studies are necessary to confirm the outcome and to investigate genetic correlations with other traits currently under selection.     

A comparative study of the antioxidant power of flavonoid catechin and its planar analogue

The antioxidant ability of the flavanol catechin and its planar derivative, catechin 1 (PC1), was explored using the DF/B3LYP theoretical approach. Their potentiality in the hydrogen abstraction and electron transfer reactions, the main working mechanisms of antioxidants, was evaluated by computing the values of two key parameters, which are the OH bond dissociation energy and the ionization potential. Results indicated that the effect of a planar arrangement in the catechin molecule is small in the case of the hydrogen abstraction but greater for the electron transfer, since the in vacuo ionization potential value decreases by about 3 kcal/mol. The reaction of these molecules with the hydroperoxyl radical (*)OOH indicated that the H(*) abstraction is faster with the planar catechin.     

Psychological responses after abortion

A review of methodologically sound studies of the psychological responses of U.S. women after they obtained legal, nonrestrictive abortions indicates that distress is generally greatest before the abortion and that the incidence of severe negative responses is low. Factors associated with increased risk of negative response are consistent with those reported in research on other stressful life events.     

Feed supplemented with 3 different antibiotics improved food intake and decreased the activation of the humoral immune response in healthy weaned pigs but had differing effects on intestinal microbiota

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 3 antibiotics used for pulmonary pathologies added in the feed of weaned pigs on growth performance, commensal microbiota, and immune response. At weaning, a total of 72 pigs were randomly assigned by BW and litter to 1 of the following diets: control (typical weaning diet), control + 400 mg of tilmicosin/kg, control + 600 mg of amoxicillin/kg, and control + 300 mg of doxycycline/kg. Individually penned pigs were slaughtered after 3 wk (12 pigs/treatment) or 4 wk (6 pigs/treatment). During the fourth week, all pigs received the control diet to test the residual effect of the antimicrobial supplementation. The antibiotic supplementation increased growth and feed intake during the first week (P < 0.01) and over the first 3 wk combined (P < 0.05). Gain-to-feed ratio tended to improve during the first week (P = 0.076) by the antibiotics compared with the control. Among the antibiotic treatments, no difference was observed in ADG and feed intake, which were also unchanged by the diet in the fourth week. The fecal enterobacteria counts were increased by amoxicillin on d 14 and 21 (P < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively) and were decreased by tilmicosin (P < 0.001) compared with the control. Amoxicillin decreased lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.01) counts compared with the control. The antibiotic supplementation tended to decrease total bacteria variability in the jejunum (Shannon index, P = 0.091) compared with the control. The antibiotic treatment decreased the mean total serum IgM concentration (P = 0.016) after 3 wk and did not change the mucosal histomorphometry of the small intestine. For tilmicosin, the observed positive action on piglet performance and feed intake can originate by the decreased costs of immune activation determined by the action on intestinal microbiota. For amoxicillin and doxycycline, the observation on intestinal and fecal microbiota seems to be not sufficient to explain their growth-promoting effect.     

Room-temperature ultraviolet nanowire nanolasers

Room-temperature ultraviolet lasing in semiconductor nanowire arrays has been demonstrated. The self-organized, <0001> oriented zinc oxide nanowires grown on sapphire substrates were synthesized with a simple vapor transport and condensation process. These wide band-gap semiconductor nanowires form natural laser cavities with diameters varying from 20 to 150 nanometers and lengths up to 10 micrometers. Under optical excitation, surface-emitting lasing action was observed at 385 nanometers, with an emission linewidth less than 0.3 nanometer. The chemical flexibility and the one-dimensionality of the nanowires make them ideal miniaturized laser light sources. These short-wavelength nanolasers could have myriad applications, including optical computing, information storage, and microanalysis.     

Mars north polar deposits: stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response

The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has imaged the internal stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars. Radar reflections within the deposits reveal a laterally continuous deposition of layers, which typically consist of four packets of finely spaced reflectors separated by homogeneous interpacket regions of nearly pure ice. The packet/interpacket structure can be explained by approximately million-year periodicities in Mars' obliquity or orbital eccentricity. The observed approximately 100-meter maximum deflection of the underlying substrate in response to the ice load implies that the present-day thickness of an equilibrium elastic lithosphere is greater than 300 kilometers. Alternatively, the response to the load may be in a transient state controlled by mantle viscosity. Both scenarios probably require that Mars has a subchondritic abundance of heat-producing elements.     

Deep Impact: observations from a worldwide Earth-based campaign

On 4 July 2005, many observatories around the world and in space observed the collision of Deep Impact with comet 9P/Tempel 1 or its aftermath. This was an unprecedented coordinated observational campaign. These data show that (i) there was new material after impact that was compositionally different from that seen before impact; (ii) the ratio of dust mass to gas mass in the ejecta was much larger than before impact; (iii) the new activity did not last more than a few days, and by 9 July the comet's behavior was indistinguishable from its pre-impact behavior; and (iv) there were interesting transient phenomena that may be correlated with cratering physics.     

Conservation of Mediterranean habitats and biodiversity countdowns: what information do we really need?

• 1. The relentless increase in both human activities and exploitation of marine resources is a threat to marine habitats and species.
• 2. For marine systems, several protection initiatives have been outlined over the past decade to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional, and national levels, and to establish representative networks of marine protected areas with the aim of protecting 10–30% of marine habitats.
• 3. Reliable estimates of the total area occupied by each habitat are crucial to set adequate protection initiatives. Habitat mapping requires a sound habitat classification. Many classification schemes have been developed in different areas of the world, sometimes based on questionable criteria.
• 4. A critical analysis of the most recent marine habitat classification list produced for the Mediterranean Sea from the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) showed that (i) 39% of habitats and associated species considered in the list are scarcely covered by scientific knowledge from Web‐based resources; (ii) 62% of the species/genera included in the list are primary producers; (iii) quantitative information about the geographical distribution of selected habitats and associated species is scant; and (iv) when available, information is largely unbalanced and biased towards the shallow western Mediterranean Sea.
• 5. Improved inventories of marine habitats are needed to support accurate and consistent mapping activities. The combination of large‐scale mapping and sound habitat classifications will allow better estimates of biodiversity distribution, to reverse regional/global habitat loss rates through the achievement of conservation targets and deadlines that, for the moment, are systematically not met. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.