Neural networks in fisheries research

Piscimetrics deals with software implementation of experimental design, second-generation artificial intelligence tools, viz. Neural Nets (NNs), genetic algorithms, Fuzzy Logic, Expert Systems, Wavelets and Image analysis in the field of fisheries. A brief sketch of NNs is followed by a review of their applications in forecasting, classification, distribution and fisheries management since 1978. Forecasting in fisheries covers distribution of eggs, recruitment, fish growth/age, biomass and fish catch. Other major areas are identification, abundance and food products, environmental factors and collapse of fishery industry. The data structures are given in tensorial notation. The need for the paradigm shift from classical to multi-level hybrid NNs is emphasized.     

Monoclonal Gammopathy in a Dog With Visceral Leishmaniasis

One dog with visceral leishmaniasis associated with monoclonal gammopathy is described. Most dogs with visceral leishmaniasis present with hyperproteinemia due to a polyclonal gammopathy, but the possibility of monoclonal gammopathy must be considered. Because dogs accompany their owners when they travel, the diagnosis of leishmaniasis should be considered if an animal with monoclonal gammopathy has visited an area where the disease is endemic. The observation of Leishmania in the macrophages of a bone marrow, lymph node smear, or skin biopsy specimen is diagnostic.     

Cell Response Associated to NaCI Effect in a Freshwater Telecost Epidermis

Sixteen adult fresh water teleosts ( Pimelodus maculatus) were used in an examination of the effect of salt water on the ultrastructure of the epidermis. Six animals were treated for 3 hours with 2% saline and six were treated with 1% saline for 8 hours. No diffrenences between treated groups were noted. Four animals served as untreated controls. Both transmission and freeze-facture electonmicroscopy was utilized in examining the epidermis.
The significant alterations in epidermis were observed within the superficial cell layer, in which a decreased density of micropolicae occurred, suggesting streching of the cell surface. An increased intercellular space was also observed in this layer. The cells demonstrated an increase in intracytoplasmic vesicles, and an enhancement of Golgi membranes in treated animals as compared to untreated animals.     

Contribución al conocimiento de la neuro-arquitectura del ligamento periodontal dentario y su significatión funcional

Contribution to the study of the neuroardiitecture of the periodontal ligament and its functional significance In the present study particularly the specific receptors for certain sensory stimuli such as for pain, touch and pressure were studied. The vascular system is accompanied in its entirety by myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibers which form a kind of satellite system to the vessels.     

Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) genes in common teals (Anas crecca)

To evaluate the presence of Campylobacter spp. and related cdt genes, cloacal swabs were collected from 70 common teals (Anas crecca) and analyzed by culture methods and polymerase chain reaction. In addition, C. jejuni were examined also for the presence of wlaN gene. This is believed to be the first report of Campylobacter spp. in common teal and our results confirm the very common occurrence of C. jejuni (n=40) and C. coli (n=13) in waterfowls. Furthermore, the cdt genes were frequently present in both C. jejuni and C. coli isolated. Moreover, seven C. jejuni isolates carried also the wlaN gene which is presumably involved in the expression of ganglioside mimics in Guillain-Barré syndrome.     

Kinetics for substrate utilization and methane production during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion of two phases olive pomace (TPOP)

A kinetic study of the anaerobic digestion process of two phases olive pomace (TPOP) was carried out in a laboratory-scale completely stirred tank reactor at mesophilic temperature (35 degrees C). The reactor was operated at influent substrate concentrations of 34.5 (substrate I), 81.1 (substrate II), 113.1 (substrate III), and 150.3 g COD/L (substrate IV). The hydraulic retention times (HRT) ranged between 8.3 and 40.0 days for the most diluted substrate (I) and between 10 and 50 days for the other three influent substrate concentrations used (substrates II-IV). The results obtained demonstrated that the rates of substrate uptake and methane production were correlated with the concentration of biodegradable total chemical oxygen demand (COD), through equations of the Michaelis-Menten type. A mass (COD) balance around the reactor allowed the methane yield coefficient and cell maintenance coefficient to be obtained, which gave values of 0.25 L CH(4)/g COD(t) and 0.25 days(-1), respectively. The first one was coincident to that obtained through experimental data of methane production and substrate consumption. The kinetic equations obtained and the proposed mass balance were used to simulate the anaerobic digestion process of TPOP and to obtain the theoretical COD of the reactor and methane production rates. The small deviations obtained (equal or lower than 10%) between the values calculated through the model and experimental ones suggest that the proposed model predicts the behavior of the reactor very accurately.     

Assessment of the phenotypic diversity in natural populations of Annona coriacea Mart.: implications for breeding

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Annona coriacea Mart. is a native tree to the savannas of Brazil that produces fruits that have economic, ecological, and dietary potential for use by local...     

Biocontrol of potato early blight and suppression of Alternaria grandis sporulation by Clonostachys spp.

Early blight, caused by Alternaria solani and A. grandis, severely affects potato crops around the world, and few management options apart from intensive fungicide use are available. In this work, we tested whether biocontrol treatments with different species of the mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys could reduce early blight severity on the foliage of pot-grown potatoes of cultivar Ágata, and affect the survival and sporulation of the causal pathogen A. grandis. Twenty isolates from five Clonostachys species were screened in a preliminary biocontrol trial, and nine of them were selected and tested further in two confirmation trials. Treatments with three isolates from three species (C. chloroleuca, C. pseudochroleuca, C. rhizophaga) resulted in a significant reduction in disease severity in both confirmation trials, with control efficacy ranging from 88.7% to 92.9% in the first trial, and from 83.1% to 84.7% in the second trial. All Clonostachys isolates used in the confirmation trials survived on potato leaf tissues for at least 15 days, and resumed growth when subjected to high humidity, resulting in mycoparasitic overgrowth and significant reduction of the pathogen sporulation. Our results provide evidence that different species of Clonostachys, not only the ubiquitous C. rosea, are sources of useful candidates for the biocontrol of potato early blight and possibly other plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens.