Rapid determination of domoic acid in serum and urine by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid, selective, and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantitative determination of domoic acid in serum and urine samples. Samples were prepared for analysis using an Oasis HLB SPE column. Determination was by a reversed phase HPLC using a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile, and water containing 1% acetic acid and an electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap mass spectrometer (Finnigan LCQ). The method was validated by analyzing five replicates each of negative control bovine serum or urine fortified with domoic acid at the 0.005 microg/g method detection limit (MDL) and at the 0.05 microg/g level. Recoveries ranged from 90 to 95% for fortifications at the MDL and from 92 to 98% for fortifications 10 times higher than the MDL. The diagnostic utility of the method was tested by analyzing samples from live animals showing clinical signs suggestive of domoic acid poisoning submitted to the veterinary toxicology laboratory.     

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN AQUACULTURE: DEDUCING PRODUCT FORM FROM PRODUCT CLASS INFORMATION

Marketing scholars argue that product development should begin by examining the needs and wants of consumers, but what should product developers do when consumers are not able to express their needs and wants for a new product? To overcome this problem, we propose and test a model using consumers' product class information to deduce preferences for a product form. It is shown that this application can help firms get a handle on the problem of consumers not being able to articulate their needs and wants for a new product.     

Seed Potato Performance after Storage in Light at Elevated Temperatures

In regions with short growth seasons, it is of great importance to use potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed tubers with a high growth vigour and a short growth cycle. Such qualities may be obtained by treatments advancing the physiological age of the seed tubers. In this study, we have exposed tubers from four cultivars to various combinations of temperature and light conditions (green-sprouting) for 3–7 months in controlled climate. Subsequent sprout quality, seed tuber health and performance were studied in laboratory, greenhouse and field trials. Satisfactory short, sturdy and leafy sprouts were produced even after 7 months storage at 15 °C under light exposure. An assay of black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) on the tuber skin showed that light exposure significantly reduced the occurrence compared with dark-stored tubers, while the average effect of storage temperatures was insignificant. In general, green-sprouting advanced emergence and plant growth by 1–2 weeks, and showed early tuber initiation and growth, compared to untreated material. Yields, 107 days after planting in the field trial, did not deviate significantly from untreated tubers. However, plant development at harvest was in accordance with general responses to physiological ageing of potato seed tubers, i.e. still tall and immature plants from untreated tubers, and short and mature plants from aged tubers. Results demonstrated the possibility of successful long-term storage of potato seed tubers in light at elevated temperatures and a potential for earlier harvests and higher early yields from such treatments.     

Effects of three commercial diets on growth,cataract development and histopathology of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.)

Three duplicate groups of individually tagged lumpfish (mean initial weight: 20.0 ± 4.0 g) were fed three commercially available diets (A, B and C) for a period of 147 days. There were significant differences in growth rates between the groups with fish fed diet A having the highest growth rates whilst fish fed diet C achieved the lowest growth. Lumpfish fed diets A and B had lower prevalence and severity of cataracts compared with fish fed diet C, suggesting a possible dietary effect on cataract, alone or in combination with other environmental factors. There was a significant difference in the degree of liver vacuolization between the three dietary treatments at the end of the study period with fish fed diets A and B showing moderate to severe vacuolization compared with liver tissue from fish fed diet C, which had milder vacuolizations. There was little or no inflammation in pyloric caeca, midgut and hindgut and similarly for epithelial necrosis or vacuolization for all three dietary treatments at the end of the study. Fish fed diet A had the longest intestinal folds whilst fish fed diet C had the shortest.     

猪的重要线虫及节肢动物寄生虫病的诊断

猪是许多蠕虫、节肢动物及原虫类寄生虫的天然宿主.寄生虫感染对于养猪生产的盈利具有重要的潜在威胁.因此,寄生虫病的防制成为重要的课题,而要充分控制寄生虫感染则需依靠准确的诊断.……     

The role of exotic tree species in Nordic forestry

The selection of suitable tree species is a prerequisite for successful forestry, and the use of exotic species as an alternative to native species is often a relevant option. In this paper, we discuss this option in relation to the present and future wood production in Nordic forestry. We revisit the vegetation and forest history and its implications for the interest in using exotic species. We review to what extent exotic species can contribute to increased economic returns from forest plantings and the potential negative ecological effects associated with introduction of new species. Considering the expected climate changes, we discuss whether and how the increased use of exotic species can contribute to sustained and increased health and productivity of Nordic forests without jeopardising ecological and social values.     

Monooxygenase mediated pyrethroid detoxification in sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)

The role of monooxygenases in detoxification of the pyrethroids cypermethrin and deltamethrin was examined. Four strains of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer) with normal or moderately reduced sensitivity towards the pyrethroids were tested in bioassays by exposure to the pyrethroid alone and in combination with an oxygenase inhibitor, piperonyl butoxide (PBO). The normal (baseline) sensitivity was considered as the sensitivity range for the two most sensitive strains. Pre‐treatment with PBO elevated the sensitivity (P < 0.01) compared with groups exposed to the pyrethroid only. A positive, but not statistically significant, correlation between the activity of haem peroxidases and the pyrethroid concentration immobilizing 50% of the parasites was demonstrated (ρ = 0.500 for deltamethrin and ρ = 0.310 for cypermethrin). The results indicate that cytochrome P450 monooxygenases are involved in detoxification of pyrethroids in sea lice. ¹⁴C‐Deltamethrin was absorbed in a lesser amount in a group of sea lice exposed to a mixture of the compound and PBO than in a group exposed to ¹⁴C‐deltamethrin alone. A significant difference could be demonstrated both immediately after exposure (P < 0.01) and 24 h after exposure (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups pre‐treated with PBO and groups exposed to ¹⁴C‐deltamethrin only. ¹⁴C‐Deltamethrin was taken up mainly through the cuticle, especially the cuticle on the extremities of the ventral surface, and subsequently distributed throughout the body of the parasite. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chaetotaxy applied to Norwegian Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 (Monogenea) clades and related species from salmonids

Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 is a major pathogen of wild Salmo salar L. parr populations in Norway, and its delimitation from non-pathogenic species is important. The present study was undertaken to test the power of chaetotaxy to differentiate between three populations belonging to both the same and different clades (as stated by mtDNA) of G. salaris, in addition to three different species of gyrodactylids (G. salaris, G. thymalli and G. caledoniensis). The gyrodactylids were processed for chaetotaxy in situ and a maximum of 50 specimens per collection site were used to construct a generalised map over the sensilla. The sensilla were found in all populations to be symmetrically distributed around the median longitudinal axis, according to a formula of 7 dorsal (34 sensilla) and 8 ventral (44 sensilla) clusters on each side of the median line. The three Norwegian populations of G. salaris were found identical, as were the population of G. thymalli. The specimens of G. caledoniensis from Scotland, however, were found to differ from the Norwegian species G. salaris and G. thymalli by the position of one sensillum in two of the clusters. A comparison of the sensillum pattern of laboratory maintained G. salaris (River Lierelva) with results obtained ten years earlier, questions the temporal stability of the chaetotaxy pattern. The present results indicate that chaetotaxy can be used to discriminate between certain Gyrodactylus spp. but not generally.