BUDGET ANALYSIS OF PENAEID SHRIMP HATCHERY FACILITIES

One of the critical factors in commercial penaeid shrimp culture production is the availability of postlarvae to stock grow-out ponds. This study investigates the economic feasibility of rearing penaeid shrimp from nauplii to postlarvae (hatchery phase). The facility design used is based on the hatchery operated by Texas A&M university at Galveston, Texas. The Generalized Budget Simulation Model for Aquaculture developed at Texas A&M University was used for the analysis. A ten-year planning horizon was used for the analysis. Six different systems ranging in size from 5 ten-metric ton tanks to 60 ten-metric ton tanks were examined. Annual cost and return budgets were developed for the six systems assuming they operated 6 and 12 months per year. Investment costs, break-even prices and quantities, and net present value were estimated for each system. Results show that commercial hatcheries, using 10-metric ton tanks, could be profitable above and including 20 tanks for those operating only six months annually and above and including 10 tanks for those operating 12 months annually.     

CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA

It is the purpose of this study to call attention to new bone production that often occurs early in the sequence of pathological changes associated with canine hip dysplasia. New bone production extending to bony remodeling, as well as femoral head subluxation, both occur in the sequence of pathologic changes associated with canine hip dysplasia. Subluxation is considered primary, while osteoarthrosis is a secondary feature, and both are used in the diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia. This report concerns the significance of the presence of a solitary bony osteophyte, or spur, that is frequently evident on the caudal aspect of the femoral neck as viewed on the conventional ventrodorsal projection. This report utilizes findings from pelvic radiographs of 605 dogs (five breeds). There was a greater frequency (54%)of this bony change in cases diagnosed radiographically as dysplastic than in cases diagnosed as normal(15%).Thus, it is suggested that this minimal radiographic change can be used as an indicator of early canine hip dysplasia, especially in the absence of subluxation of the femoral head.     

Variations in muscle fiber composition between successfully and unsuccessfully raced quarter horses

Muscle biopsy samples were removed from the m gluteus medius of 47 retired running Quarter Horse (QH) mares. Horses were separated based on bloodline, past racing history and percentage Thoroughbred (TB). The bred to run and raced (BRRA) and bred to run and not raced (BRNR) groups possessed a lower percentage (P<.01) of fast-twitch low oxidative (FT) fibers (BRRA 38.6 and BRNR 36.2±2.54 respectively). These horses also possessed a higher percentage (P<.01) of fast-twitch high oxidative (FTH) fibers (BRRA 52.5 and BRNR 48.5±2.54, respectively) than not bred to run and not raced (NBNR) horses. Horses that were bred to run had higher (P<.05) FTH to FT fiber ratios (1.44) than horses that were not bred to run (.94). Successful racehorses possessed a lower percentage (P<.05) of slow-twitch (ST) fibers and a higher percentage (P<.05) of FT fibers than unsuccessful racehorses. Success or failure was determined by Speed Index. No differences (P>.05) were found in the percentage FTH fibers between successful and unsuccessful horses.     

NONHUMAN PRIMATE EXCRETORY UROGRAPHY*

Survey radiographs have not accurately identified renal contour or location in nonhuman primates. Excretory urography using 786 to 1193 mg iodinelkg body weight resulted in dense opacification of the renal parenchyma and pelvis. Abdominal compression improved visu- alization of the renal pelvis. Interpretation of the nonhuman primate excretory urogram was compromised by several anatomic characteristics of this animal group. Superimposition of the kidneys on the lateral radiograph limited evaluation of the renal contour. Since the renal pelvis in most species of nonhuman primates does not possess diverticula (as in the dog and cat) or a caliceal system (as in the pig and man), the diagnosis of pyelonephritis or renal mass lesions was difficult. Severe irregularities in the renal contour, size of the renal pelvis, or areas of deficient concentrating ability were identifiable in nonhuman primate excretory urograms, but the diagnosis of small cysts was not possible in smaller nonhuman primates. The presence of a caliceal collecting system in the spider monkey (Ateles sp.) suggests this animal as a potential model for the evaluation of human renal disease.     

DECREASED TOXICITY OF COPPER AND MANGANESE IONS TO SHRIMP NAUPLII (Penaeus stylirostris STIMPSON) IN THE PRESENCE OF EDTA

Although ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used routinely in the intensive culture of penaeid shrimp larvae to increase both the percentage of eggs that hatch and the survival of larvae, the mode of action is not known. To explain EDTA's beneficial effect this study compares the toxicities of copper and manganese divalent ions in the presence and absence of 10 mg EDTA/liter seawater. Toxicity was evaluated in terms of the percentage of Penaeus stylirostris nauplii surviving after 12 and 24 hours of exposure to either copper or manganese and in terms of the percentage of nauplii that metamorphose to the protozoeal stage. In the absence of EDTA, copper and manganese ions were toxic to nauplii with copper causing 100% mortality at a much lower concentration (20 μM) than manganese (20,000 μM). In the presence of EDTA, survival of nauplii exposed to copper was increased but survival of nauplii exposed to manganese was not affected. At concentrations lower than the levels that reduce survival, copper ions (0.2 μM) and manganese ions (2 μM) reduce the percentage of nauplii that metamorphose to protozoea. In the presence of EDTA, the percentage of nauplii that metamorphose to protozoea is increased with both nauplii exposed to copper ions and nauplii exposed to manganese ions. The beneficial effects of EDTA are probably due to the chelation of copper and manganese ions by EDTA. Chelation lowers the free concentration of these ions and thus reduces their toxicities.     

DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN OF THE DOG

A group of 160 Beagles were studied radiographically to determine the pattern of degenerative changes within the vertebral column, especially involving the intervertebral discs. The normal radiographic appearance of both disc and surrounding vertebrae is described. Disc space narrowing and calcification of discal tissues provide radiographic patterns that assist in diagnosis and prognosis. Because of the older age of the dogs, severe degeneration of the endplates with marked instability between vertebral segments was seen.     

Chocolate is a powerful ex vivo and in vivo antioxidant, an antiatherosclerotic agent in an animal model, and a significant contributor to antioxidants in the European and American Diets

Chocolate today is often viewed as a food or snack with little nutritional value. The high saturated fat content of chocolate has also contributed to the belief that its consumption increases the risk of heart disease. However, recent human studies have proven that chocolate has beneficial effects on some pathogenic mechanisms of heart disease such as endothelial function and blood pressure. Although the antioxidant properties of chocolate have been known for some time, there has been no examination of its place in the U.S. diet as a source of antioxidants. This paper demonstrates that chocolate makes a significant contribution to U.S. per capita dietary antioxidants and by inference the European Community's. In the U.S. diet chocolate is the third highest daily per capita antioxidant source. An ex vivo study shows that epicatechin, a major polyphenol in chocolate and chocolate extracts, is a powerful inhibitor of plasma lipid oxidation due to polyphenols' ability to bind to lower density lipoproteins. Conversely, the fat from chocolate alone is a pro-oxidant in this model. This is also demonstrated in an in vivo human study. After consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa powder, the lower density lipoproteins isolated from plasma were protected from oxidation compared to the lipoproteins isolated after cocoa butter consumption, which were put under oxidative stress. In an animal model of atherosclerosis, cocoa powder at a human dose equivalent of two dark chocolate bars per day significantly inhibited atherosclerosis, lowered cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides, raised high-density lipoprotein, and protected the lower density lipoproteins from oxidation. Chocolate has thus been shown to have potential beneficial effects with respect to heart disease.