Effects of dietary nucleotides on growth,survival and metabolic response in whiteleg shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei against ammonia stress condition

This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of nucleotides on growth of whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, and the survival and metabolic responses to ammonia stress test. Experimental diets were as follows: low fish meal diet (LFMD), and four LFMD test diets, each supplemented with 0.1% guanosine monophosphate (GMP), 0.1% inosine monophosphate (IMP), 0.1% mixture of GMP and IMP and 0.1% mixture of GMP, IMP, uridine monophosphate (UMP) and cytidine monophosphate (CMP). The shrimp specimens (initial body weight: 0.99 ± 0.01 g) were randomly allocated into five groups and fed four times daily for 8‐weeks. After the trial, final body weight was recorded and haemolymph was withdrawn for haematological analysis. The shrimp was then challenged with 70 mg/L ammonia (LC50) for 10 days. Survival and haemolymph of the shrimp were taken after exposure to ammonia. The highest growth performance was observed in the shrimp fed diet supplemented with GMP (p < .05), while survival was not influenced by the test diets in the feeding trial. In the ammonia challenge test, the highest survival was observed in the shrimp fed GMP supplemented diet compared to others. The plasma protein, glucose and cholesterol levels increased in all the treatments while triglycerides level decreased post challenge. Cortisol level recovered at day 10th after the challenge. Shrimps fed with nucleotides diets showed higher protein and glucose level compared to control groups post challenge. In general, nucleotides supplemented in the diet enhanced growth, improved stress resistance while modulating the haemolymph metabolites in L. vannamei under ammonia stress.     

Phylogenetic analysis and characterization of Korean bovine viral diarrhea viruses

Thirty-six bovine viral disease viruses (BVDVs) were identified in bovine feces (n = 16), brains (n = 2), and aborted fetuses (n = 18) in Korea. To reveal the genetic diversity and characteristics of these Korean strains, the sequences of their 5′-untranslated regions (5′-UTRs) were determined and then compared with published reference sequences. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the Korean viruses were of the BVDV subtypes 1a (n = 17) or 2a (n = 17). The remaining strains were of subtypes 1b (n = 1) and 1n (n = 1). This analysis indicates that the 1a and 2a BVDV subtypes are predominant and widespread in Korea. In addition, the prevalence of BVDV-2 was markedly higher in aborted fetuses than in other samples and was more often associated with reproductive problems and significant mortality in cattle.     

Effects of Prohexadione Calcium on growth and gibberellins contents of Chrysanthemum morifolium R. cv Monalisa White

The effect of Prohexadione Calcium (Pro-Ca) and daminozide was observed on the growth characteristics and endogenous gibberellin contents of Chrysanthemum morifolium R. cv Monalisa White. Three concentrations viz. 100, 200 and 400 ppm of Pro-Ca and a single concentration of daminozide (800 ppm) were applied three times with 7 days interval on three weeks old plant under greenhouse condition. Pro-Ca suppressed the plant length up to 30.7% while daminozide inhibited up to 27.12% at optimum concentration. The chlorophyll contents and stem diameter were higher than control, while the fresh weight and flower number insignificantly reduced with such treatments. Gibberellin (GA) analysis showed that Pro-Ca and daminozide application significantly lowered bioactive GA₁ content, although the amount of its immediate precursor GA₂₀ was fractionally higher. Bioactive GA₄ content was slightly higher than the control while significant difference in GA₉ was found between the plants treated with Pro-Ca and daminozide. Current study showed that both early C13 hydroxylation and non-C13 hydroxylation pathways of GA biosynthesis are operational in C. morifolium.     

Photoinduced generation of 2,3-butanedione from riboflavin

The volatile compound formation from riboflavin solution of a phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 6.5) under light for 15 h was studied by SPME-GC and SPME-GC/MS analysis. Only one major compound in the riboflavin solution was formed and increased as the light exposure time increased. The light-exposed riboflavin solution had a buttery odor. The compound of riboflavin solution under light was analyzed by gas chromatography and olfactometry. The major volatile compound eluted from the gas chromatograph had a buttery odor. The buttery odor compound was positively identified as 2,3-butanedione by a combination of gas chromatographic retention time, mass spectrum, and odor evaluation of authentic 2,3-butanedione. The addition of sodium azide, a singlet oxygen quencher, to riboflavin solution minimized the formation of the buttery odor compound. Singlet oxygen was involved in the formation of the buttery odor. The 2,3-butanedione was produced from the reaction between riboflavin and singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen was formed from triplet oxygen by riboflavin photosensitization mechanism. This is the first reported oxidation reaction between riboflavin and singlet or triplet in food and biological systems.     

Characterization of aroma-active compounds in raw and cooked pine-mushrooms (Tricholoma matsutake Sing.)

The characteristic aroma-active compounds in raw and cooked pine-mushrooms (Tricholoma matsutake Sing.) were investigated by gas chromatography-olfactometry using aroma extract dilution analysis. 1-Octen-3-one (mushroom-like) was the major aroma-active compound in raw pine-mushrooms; this compound had the highest flavor dilution factor, followed by ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (floral and sweet), linalool (citrus-like), methional (boiled potato-like), 3-octanol (mushroom-like and buttery), 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom-like), (E)-2-octen-1-ol (mushroom-like), and 3-octanone (mushroom-like and buttery). By contrast, methional, 2-acetylthiazole (roasted), an unknown compound (chocolate-like), 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (buttery), and phenylacetaldehyde (floral and sweet), which could be formed by diverse thermal reactions during the cooking process, together with C8 compounds, were identified as the major aroma-active compounds in cooked pine-mushrooms.     

Effect of dietary nutrient composition on the growth of olive flounder (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis>) with different feeding regimes

We have examined the effect of dietary nutrient composition on the growth, body composition and blood chemistry of juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) maintained on two different feeding regimes. Three experimental diets [HP (high protein), HE (high energy) and IPE (intermediate protein and energy)] were crossed in a two-factor design with the two feeding regimes, which consisted of 2WS + 2WF (2-week starvation and then 2-week feeding) and 4WS + 4WF (4-week starvation and then 4-week feeding)], for 8 weeks. The total days of feeding in all treatments were the same. The final weight of fish was affected by feeding regime, but not by dietary nutrient composition. Long-term starving and feeding (the 4WS + 4WF treatments) yielded higher growth than the alternating short-term starving and feeding regime (2WS + 2WF treatments). The feed consumption of fish was affected by dietary nutrient composition, but not by feeding regime, while the feed efficiency of fish was affected by feeding regime, but not by dietary nutrient composition. Moisture, crude protein and crude lipid contents of the liver of the fish were affected by dietary nutrient composition, but not by feeding regime.     

Marine mortality in the river? Atlantic salmon smolts under high predation pressure in the last kilometres of a river monitored for stock assessment

The River Bush (Northern Ireland) is an index river for the estimation of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., stock size, population dynamics and marine survival rates. Marine survival estimates are based on the number of smolts counted at a trap 3.5 km upstream of the river outlet. The survival from release to coastal inshore waters for acoustic‐tagged smolts released at the Bushmills trap varied between 32% and 68%, with both year and brightness during river exit playing a significant role in explaining the variations in survival. This constitutes an important survival bottleneck. Contrary to true marine mortality, this significant loss of smolts in the river and nearshore environments could be reduced by focused management actions. More studies on other rivers, where smolts are enumerated above the head of tide, could further partition smolt and post‐smolt mortality, help differentiate true marine survival and help understand fluctuations in adult returns.     

The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid on Vitamin D Activation in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Study

The high incidence of cardiovascular disease and vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease patients is well known. Vitamin D activation by omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation may explain the cardioprotective effects exerted by omega-3 FA. We hypothesized that omega-3 FA and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) supplementation may increase 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)₂D) levels compared to 25(OH)D supplementation alone in hemodialysis (HD) patients that have insufficient or deficient 25(OH)D levels. We enrolled patients that were treated for at least six months with 25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL ({"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01596842","term_id":"NCT01596842"}}NCT01596842). Patients were randomized to treatment for 12 weeks with cholecalciferol supplemented with omega-3 FA or a placebo. Levels of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)₂D were measured after 12 weeks. The erythrocyte membrane FA contents were also measured. Levels of 25(OH)D were increased in both groups at 12 weeks compared to baseline. The 1,25(OH)₂D levels at 12 weeks compared to baseline showed a tendency to increase in the omega-3 FA group. The oleic acid and monounsaturated FA content decreased, while the omega-3 index increased in the omega-3 FA group. Omega-3 FA supplementation may be partly associated with vitamin D activation, although increased 25(OH)D levels caused by short-term cholecalciferol supplementation were not associated with vitamin D activation in HD patients.     

Application of DGGE analysis to the study of bacterial community structure in plant roots and in nonrhizosphere soil

To analyze the structure of bacterial communities in spinach roots and in the nonrhizosphere soil, we used PeR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). DGGE revealed a large number of band patterns, which were ascribed to various bacterial species composing each of the bacterial communities. The pattern from the roots was less complex than that from the soil. It is considered that DGGE analysis is suitable for studies of bacterial community structure in soil-plant ecosystems.