Effect of dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratios on growth,digestive enzyme and blood metabolites of juvenile Brazilian sardines,Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879)

The limited availability of live bait for capturing skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, is a bottleneck to increasing tuna production in many parts of the world. Therefore, a nutrition trial was performed to contribute to the production of the Brazilian sardine, Sardinella brasiliensis, for use as live bait. This study determined the best dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio (CHO:L) for juvenile Brazilian sardines based on growth performance, feed utilisation, body composition, blood metabolites and digestive enzyme activity. Six isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated with increased CHO:L ratios (2.05, 3.41, 4.15, 5.11, 5.80 and 6.72). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 100 fish with mean initial body weight of 2.97 ± 0.51 g, which were fed four times a day to apparent satiation. Survival was not affected by differences in diet, however, a low CHO:L ratio stimulated growth. Juveniles fed with a rich‐carbohydrate diet inhibit feed intake and protein intake. Body lipid increased as dietary lipid increased and was inversely correlated to body moisture. The diets did not affect the juvenile's blood metabolites. Alkaline and acid protease activities were not significantly different, but lipase and amylase responded positively to the dietary lipids and carbohydrates. Using segmented regression, the optimum CHO:L ratio for maximum weight gain of juvenile Brazilian sardines was estimated to be 3.41, which contain approximately 300 g kg^?1 carbohydrate and 88 g kg^?1 lipid.     

Digestibility of Alternative Protein‐Rich Feedstuffs for Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of amino acids, crude protein, gross energy, and dry matter of canola meal, corn gluten feed, fish offal meal, shrimp and fish offal meal, poultry by‐product meal, and hydrolyzed feather meal were determined for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Experimental diets contained 30% test ingredient, 69.5% casein‐based reference diet, and 0.5% chromic oxide. Groups of 20 fish (102.45 g) were fed the experimental diets twice a day at 3.5% body weight. Fecal samples were collected in triplicate daily at 0000 h and 0600 h after settlement into collection devices. Shrimp and fish offal meal and corn gluten feed presented significantly lower (P < 0.05) ADC for dry matter (59.5 and 39.3%) suggesting their low value as feedstuffs for catfish feeds. Although ADC values for crude protein were above 80% for all the test ingredients, amino acid digestibility varied significantly, except for histidine whose ADC remained constant regardless of the protein source. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in most of the test ingredients, except in fish offal meal and poultry by‐product meal. Among the protein sources tested, only fish offal meal and poultry by‐product meal met channel catfish amino acid requirements for a 28% digestible protein grow‐out diet.     

Forage intake and nitrogen metabolism of beef cattle grazing palisadegrass-calopo mixed pasture managed using canopy light interception

To define the best grazing management strategy, it is important to assess animals' responses to variations in the structure and composition of tropical forages. This 2-year study evaluated animal response to Marandu palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha)-calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides) mixed pastures managed under rotational grazing. Treatments consisted of three defoliation frequencies defined by rest periods interrupted at 90% (90LI), 95% (95LI) and 100% (100LI) of photosynthetically active radiation interception (LI). The stubble post-grazing height target was 15 cm. Statistical difference was declared at p < .10. The 100LI had lowest crude protein (CP) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDDM) for the Marandu palisadegrass (p = <.001 both) and calopo (p = .003 and p = .067, respectively). Also, the OM digestibility decreased 7.0% in the 100LI condition than 90LI and 95LI treatment (p = .005). There was no difference in forage, grass, and legume intakes between the treatments (p > .10). The 100LI treatment decreased CP intake from grass in 33.3% (p = <.001) compared to other treatments. Greatest production of microbial N (p = .093) occurred with the 90LI treatment. The CP/digestible organic matter (DOM) ratio, urinary N excretion and retained N were lowest in the 100LI treatment (p = <.001, p = .007 and p = .014, respectively). The recommendation for grazing between 90 and 95% of LI is recommended because of greater CP intake and N utilization for the animals and improved the nutritive value of Marandu palisadegrass and calopo mixed pastures.     

Studies on Aftertaste of Tea

Aftertaste is a taste perceiption after a food or beverage is either swallowed or spat out.The primary taste processing area located in the insula was considered to be involved in aftertaste perception.The changes in chemical compositions lead to the changes in aftertaste of tea.Tea fermentation,in which tea catechins are transformed into thearubigins,lead to a strong,distinctive flavor but a plain aftertaste.Theanine has a sweet taste,with little or no aftertaste.The bitter aftertaste of transglucosylated steviosides was reduced when they were converted through transglucosylation of stevioside by α-amylase.Characteristics of aftertaste include quality,intensity,and duration.Foods that have lingering aftertastes typically have long sensation durations.A surface plasmon resonance （SPR） system immobilized β-cyclodextrin indicated larger responses for the gallate-type catechins in comparison to the non-gallate-type catechins.The β-cyclodextrin/SPR system can sense the bitter-astringent taste intensity of the green tea.The SPR system detected the stability of the complex between the gallate-type catechins and β-cyclodextrin,which can be interpreted as the aftertaste produced in humans by the gallate-type catechins.     

Phosphorus Removal from Eutrophic Waters with an Aluminium Hybrid Nanocomposite

An excess of phosphorus (P) is the most common cause of eutrophication of freshwater bodies. Thus, it is imperative to reduce the concentration of P to prevent harmful algal blooms. Moreover, recovery of P has been gaining importance because its natural source will be exhausted in the near future. Therefore, the present work investigated the removal and recovery of phosphate from water using a newly developed hybrid nanocomposite containing aluminium nanoparticles (HPN). The HPN-Pr removes 0.80?±?0.01?mg?P/g in a pH interval between 2.0 and 6.5. The adsorption mechanism was described by a Freundlich adsorption model. The material presented good selectivity for phosphate and can be regenerated using an HCl dilute solution. The factors that contribute most to the attractiveness of HPN-Pr as a phosphate sorbent are its moderate removal capacity, feasible production at industrial scale, reuse after regeneration and recovery of phosphate.     

Different levels of organic trace minerals in diets for Nile tilapia juveniles alter gut characteristics and body composition,but not growth

Thirty groups of twenty juveniles each of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, initial average weight 23.93 ± 0.80 g) were fed diets containing increasing amounts (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of levels used by the tilapia feed industry) of organic trace mineral (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Se) supplementation for 56 days. Growth was not affected by the dose of mineral supplementation. However, body protein increased in fish fed intermediate doses of organic minerals, reaching a maximum at 40.44% supplementation. Doses >50% showed mild damage to the intestinal tissue. Body Fe, Zn and Cu deposition were highest at 28.32%, 24.43% and 78.45% supplementation, respectively. Tilapia could modulate intestinal morphology when fed different doses of organic minerals. As the supplementation doses increased, hemosiderin staining increased in the distal intestine and total body Fe content, indicating that the distal region of the intestine plays an important role in iron excretion by tilapia. Supplementation of organic trace minerals at intermediate doses does not harm Nile tilapia growth, but excessive trace mineral supplementation can impair body protein retention and promote histological alterations in the gut.     

Trypanosoma evansi experimental infection in the South American coati (Nasua nasua): clinical, parasitological and humoral immune response.

The course of Trypanosoma evansi infection in coatis (Carnivora, Procionidae) was followed for 262 days. Parasites were detected in all infected animals from day 2 post infection until the end of the study. No correlation between temperature and parasitemia was observed. Animals of the infected group demonstrated depression, weakness, lethargy and pale mucous membranes. Indirect fluorescent antibody tests detected anti-T. evansi antibodies within 7 to 14 days post infection and showed high levels until the end of the experimental period. The persistent parasitemia in coati and their relative tolerance to clinical signs suggested that this species develops a chronic disease and plays an important role in the epidemiology of trypanosomosis due to T. evansi in enzootic regions.     

Pesticide action: Different response of erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase to inhibition by organophosphorus compounds under varied dietary conditions

The inhibitory effect of malathion in conjunction with maloxon or other derivatives on the activity of rat erythrocyte membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase has been investigated after feeding diets known to affect the lipid composition of the membrane. The inhibition of AchE by preincubation of membrane preparations with this organophosphorus compound, possibly with contaminants, differed with the diet: the curve was sigmoidal after supplementation with corn oil and hyperbolic after supplementation with lard. In the latter case the kinetics of the inhibition became sigmoidal by assaying in the presence of cortisol or isoproterenol or by previous solubilization of the enzyme. These results indicate that some organophosphorus compounds can differentiate conformational states of acetylcholinesterase present in the erythrocyte membrane.     

A thermal threshold assay to measure the nociceptive response to morphine sulphate in cattle.

A thermal threshold measurer (TTM) apparatus was developed and tested in 12 dry, nonpregnant, culled cows with the purpose of measuring the thermal nociceptive threshold and of finding the response to morphine sulphate dosages. The cows received a cumulative dose (from 0.00 to 0.40 mg/kg BW) of morphine sulphate through a catheter in the jugular vein. The interval between doses was 20 min, and a nociceptive test was performed 15 min after each injection. The TTM device consisted of a 60 W halogen bulb mounted in a 15 cm PVC tube, with a 0.6 s response time probe attached to its end, connected to a thermocouple. The probe measured the response temperature on the skin over the middle phalanges on the dorsum of the forefoot. The radiating heat stimulus from the bulb was instantaneously terminated with the foot-lift response of the tested animal. The nociceptive response to the 0.00 mg/kg dose was considered the baseline and subsequent measurements were expressed in difference from it. Data were evaluated in a regression analysis using the GLM procedure. A significant elevation (P < 0.0001) in the nociceptive threshold of the cows with cumulative dosing of morphine sulphate was noticed. A high variability (P < 0.0001) in the response among animals was also detected, suggesting that a 2-step dose of morphine sulphate is necessary to achieve a certain degree of induced analgesia in all cows. The nociceptive assay described, using the TTM device, was able to detect an elevation of the thermal threshold of cows due to morphine sulphate induced analgesia. An increase in locomotory behaviour or other side effects due to morphine sulphate were not noticed.