Comparing geometric morphometrics and outline fitting methods to monitor fish shape variability of Diplodus puntazzo (Teleostea: Sparidae)

The definition of a remote system in the monitoring of fin fish shape variability relies on the appropriate shape analysis tools. In this paper, different methods are proposed and compared. Growth trajectories, computed using geometric morphometrics, allow the pattern of size-related shape change and visualize growth allometry to be analyse. Geometric morphometrics is used to describe shape change in three samples (507 5100 days after hatching) of 119 individuals of the Sparid Diplodus puntazzo. The results are potentially interesting but the method still relies on the manual detection of homologous landmarks (coordinates of points located unambiguously on each specimen’s profile or structure) which are basic for such analysis. In an attempt to proceed towards the remote estimation and the automation of data collection, two alternative approaches are tested. In particular, Elliptic Fourier analysis and Bezier function were applied to the same samples, and results compared with geometric morphometrics. Fourier analysis’ growth curves are very similar to geometric morphometrics’ ones and allows for an appropriate visualisation of global shape changes. At the same time, Fourier methods can be applied to remotely and automatically detected profiles. This method is thus considered as the best candidate in the context of automated fish shape monitoring. The Bezier method performed poorly, both in terms of statistical output and shape visualization.     

Mechanisms of quorum sensing and strategies for quorum sensing disruption in aquaculture pathogens

In many countries, infectious diseases are a considerable threat to aquaculture. The pathogenicity of micro‐organisms that infect aquaculture systems is closely related to the release of virulence factors and the formation of biofilms, both of which are regulated by quorum sensing (QS). Thus, QS disruption is a potential strategy for preventing disease in aquaculture systems. QS inhibitors (QSIs) not only inhibit the expression of virulence‐associated genes but also attenuate the virulence of aquaculture pathogens. In this review, we discuss QS systems in important aquaculture pathogens and focus on the relationship between QS mechanisms and bacterial virulence in aquaculture. We further elucidate QS disruption strategies for targeting aquaculture pathogens. Four main types of QSIs that target aquaculture pathogens are discussed based on their mechanisms of action.     

Multi-atom resonant photoemission: A method for determining near-neighbor atomic identities and bonding

Measurements and theoretical calculations are reported for an interatomic multi-atom resonant photoemission (MARPE) effect that permits direct determination of near-neighbor atomic identities (atomic numbers). MARPE occurs when the photon energy is tuned to a core-level absorption edge of an atom neighboring the emitting atom, with the emitting level having a lower binding energy than the resonant level. Large peak-intensity enhancements of 33 to 105 percent and energy-integrated effects of 11 to 29 percent were seen in three metal oxides. MARPE should also be sensitive to bond distance, bonding type, and magnetic order, and be observable via the secondary processes of x-ray fluorescence and Auger decay.     

Size selection by diamond- and square-mesh codends in multi-species Mediterranean demersal trawl fisheries

Mediterranean demersal trawl fisheries traditionally operate using small diamond-shape meshes in the codend, which tend to retain almost all animals. We investigated the effect of mesh configuration on the size selectivity of nine species (the scaldfish Arnoglossus laterna, the broad-tail shortfin squid Illex coindettii, the European hake Merluccius merluccius, the red mullet Mullus barbatus, the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus, the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus, the deepwater rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris, the Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus and the poor-cod Trisopterus minutus capelanus) commonly captured in the Mediterranean demersal trawls. Two codends having meshes with the same opening (ca. 38 mm) but different mesh configuration (DM38: diamond-mesh and SM38: square-mesh configuration) were fished daily and alternately on the same trawl. They demonstrated a substantial improvement in selectivity with square-mesh. Selectivity was measured using the covered codend technique, the cover being supported by circular hoops.The results were analysed taking into account the between-haul variation in selectivity. Two other important external variables were identified: the trawling depth and the codend catch, which for some species influenced between-haul variation, but there was no evidence of a coherent effect on selectivity parameters.The selectivity of 40 mm diamond-mesh codend has been reported to be rather poor because a large proportion of the codend catch is immature and smaller than the minimum landing size (MLS) or first maturity size. With the exception of the flatfish (A. laterna), the effect of a change of mesh configuration from diamond- to square-mesh on size selectivity positively affected the retention length at 50% (L₅₀). However, square-meshes were found to be unsuitable for flat and/or deep-bodied fish as these escape more readily from diamond-meshes.The Council Regulation (EC) No. 1967/2006, concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean, establishes the MLS of marine organisms. However, the increase in L₅₀ with square-mesh would not avoid some of the existing contradictions in allowing the use of codend mesh which leads to lower L₅₀ than the MLS.     

Hemorrhagic stomatitis in a natural hybrid of Vipera ammodytes × Vipera berus due to inappropriate substrate in terrarium

A natural hybrid of Vipera ammodytes × Vipera berus was presented having low body weight, seizures and generalized swelling of the cephalic region. Based on the history of the case and clinical examination, hemorrhagic stomatitis of traumatic origin was diagnosed. The snake was kept in a terrarium with wood chips as a substrate, and the material had induced trauma in the oral mucosa which was further complicated with Salmonella Arizonae and Morganella morganii co-infection, abscessation and osteomyelitis. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of bacterial infection in European snake hybrids and one of a few case reports in European snakes. Although wood chips are an inexpensive substrate, based on our findings, they should be avoided when keeping and breeding European vipers.     

Quantification of trans-3,4,5,4'-Tetramethoxystilbene in rat plasma by HPLC: application to pharmacokinetic study

A simple HPLC method was established to quantify trans-3,4,5,4'-tetramethoxystilbene (MR-4 or DMU-212) in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was obtained with a reversed-phase HPLC column through an 11 min gradient delivery of a mixture of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min at 50 °C. The limit of quantification was 15 ng/mL. The intra- and interday precisions in terms of relative standard deviation were <9% at all concentrations. Similarly, the accuracy was good, and the bias rates ranged within ±7%. The pharmacokinetic profiles of MR-4 were subsequently assessed in rats using 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as a dosing vehicle. Upon intravenous administration, MR-4 displayed moderate clearance (46.5 ± 7.6 mL/min/kg) and terminal elimination half-life (154 ± 80 min). However, the absolute oral bioavailability of MR-4 was low (6.31 ± 3.30%). Future investigation on MR-4 as a chemotherapeutic agent should be focused on colorectal cancers.     

A comparison of the effects of the nematodes Radopholus similis and Pratylenchus goodeyi on growth,root health and yield of an East African highland cooking banana (Musa AAA-group)

We combined two protein-marking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a predator gut content ELISA to monitor the movement and feeding activity of commercially-purchased Hippodamia convergens Guèrin-Mèneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under realistic field conditions during two field seasons in central Arizona. The protein-marking ELISAs were used to differentiate released H. convergens from the native beetles. Commercially purchased beetles marked with rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) were released into cotton fields and chicken IgG marked beetles were released into adjacent cantaloupe fields. Results showed that the total native beetle abundance in each crop was about the same size. The recovery rates after 15 days for the released beetles were less than 1.0% over all the releases, indicating that they dispersed readily from the release site. Of the recaptured beetles containing rabbit IgG (cotton), 82.2% were recovered in cotton and 11.8% moved to cantaloupe. Of those containing chicken IgG (cantaloupe), 66.5% were recovered in cantaloupe and 33.5% moved to cotton. A predator gut content ELISA was used to determine if there were differences in the frequency of predation of released versus indigenous H. convergens on the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows &; Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). The proportion of beetles containing whitefly antigens was always higher for the released beetles than for their native counterparts. Our results demonstrate an approach to combine protein marking and predator gut content ELISAs that allows the simultaneous comparison of feeding and intercrop movement of native and commercially-obtained biological control agents.