Effects of some fungicides on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isaria farinosa</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> growth and infection rate on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Planococcus citri</Emphasis>

The effects of some fungicides used against citrus diseases, on mycelial growth and conidial germination of Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fries [Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales] and also on the pathogenicity of the fungus on citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), were determined. Systemic fungicides such as tebuconazole, penconazole and nuarimol were the most effective as regards both conidial germination and mycelial growth. Protective fungicides such as captan, chlorothalonil, mancozeb and propineb inhibited conidial germination at between 1 and 5 μg ml⁻¹ concentration, but captan, chlorothalonil and propineb did not inhibit the mycelial growth at 5,000 μg ml⁻¹. Mancozeb inhibited mycelial growth between 2,500 and 5,000 μg ml⁻¹. Sulphur and copper oxychloride did not inhibit the fungus even at very high concentrations. Sulphur, copper oxychloride, fosetyl-al, chlorothalonil and carbendazim did not decrease the mortality percentage caused by I. farinosa. Tebuconazole, penconazole and mancozeb were the most effective and respectively reduced the mortality from 83% to 33%, 28% and 30% in the ovisacs, from 81% to 29%, 27% and 29% in the 1st instar larvae, and from 84% to 34% in the adult females.     

Motivations and Performance Conditions for Ethnic Entrepreneurship

Ethnic entrepreneurship has become a popular concept in a modern multi–cultural society. This paper seeks to offer an overview of the potential of ethnic entrepreneurship for solving inter alia the structural unemployment problems of ethnic groups in cities. There is a general lack of empirical evidence on this issue in the current literature. The present paper aims to fill this gap by addressing in particular the critical success conditions for ethnic entrepreneurs. The focus of the research is on variations in success across three ethnic groups in the Amsterdam area. By means of structured personal interviews with many ethnic entrepreneurs, a systematic qualitative data base was created. The paper sets out to identify empirically the driving forces for business success, such as education or the role of informal networks. The explanatory framework deployed for the identification of these qualitative success factors for distinct ethnic groups is based on a particular, recently developed artificial intelligence method, viz. rough set analysis. This multidimensional classification approach appears to be able to identify various important factors for the motivation and performance of ethnic enterprises. Two major findings emerge from this investigation: (i) performance conditions vary across ethnic groups, and (ii) informal networks are crucial for business success.     

基于GIMMS NDVI的黄土高原地区荒漠化时空特征分析

气候暖干化发展趋势使干旱半干旱地区生态环境受到荒漠化发展的胁迫,植被覆盖度能有效地表达研究区植被分布状况及荒漠化程度。利用遥感技术手段监测区域植被覆盖和荒漠化发展趋势是非常有效的途径。为了给黄土高原地区生态环境建设和荒漠化治理提供科技信息,利用1986—2006年的GIMMS AVHRR NDVI数据,采用像元二分法估算植被覆盖度;借鉴水蚀风蚀研究成果确定植被覆盖度和荒漠化关系并进行分级,对黄土高原地区荒漠化程度及时空变化进行分析。结果表明:1)黄土高原约64%的地区为植被覆盖度为10%~50%的中度和重度荒漠化区;约1/3的地区为植被覆盖度在50%以上的轻度和非荒漠化区;约3%的地区为植被覆盖度<10%的强烈荒漠化区。2)1986—2006年间,黄土高原地区整体上荒漠化程度表现为降低趋势,期间,中度和重度荒漠化面积显著减少,非荒漠化面积明显增加,而强烈荒漠化面积扩大。荒漠化程度的时间变化具有10年尺度特征。3)中度和重度荒漠化的区域具有转化频繁和连片性特征,轻度和非荒漠化区域空间转化零散破碎,强烈荒漠化扩大区域主要在宁夏甘肃的沿黄两岸。     

Effect of body condition score at mating on the reproductive performance of Kivircik sheep under an extensive production system

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the body condition score (BCS) of ewes before and during the mating season on their reproductive performance under an extensive production system. In this study, 240 Kivircik sheep from the flocks of two breeders were used for over a 2-year period. The flocks were fed under extensive conditions on natural pastures throughout the year. The ewes were synchronized in two different periods, one of which was 45 days before the other. Before the introduction of rams to the ewes, the ewes were weighed after measuring their BCS. Detailed records were kept for every flock in each year. We found significant effects of BCS on pregnancy rate, lambing rate (P < 0.05) and fecundity (P < 0.05). The BCS for the highest pregnancy, lambing rate, and fecundity was determined between 2.01 and 3.00, while the lowest rates for these traits were ≤1.50. The highest rates of the pregnancy rate, lambing rate, and fecundity and gestation productivity were 75.9%, 70.9%, 1.11 and 3.34 kg, respectively.     

Use of selamectin for the treatment of psoroptic and sarcoptic mite infestation in rabbits

Selamectin, a novel avermectin compound, was evaluated for its efficacy against naturally occurring infestations of Psoroptes cuniculi and Sarcoptes scabiei. A total of 42 New Zealand rabbits with psoroptic mange and 37 Angora rabbits with sarcoptic mange were used in the present study. On day 0, infested rabbits were treated topically with either selamectin at minimum dose of 6 mg kg(-1) (6-18 mg kg(-1) for New Zealand rabbits, n = 31 and 10-12 mg kg(-1) for Angora rabbits, n = 23) or vehicle only (control groups, n = 11 for New Zealand rabbits, n = 14 for Angora rabbits). The efficacy of selamectin was assessed both clinically and parasitologically by the presence or absence of viable mites. Rabbits were scraped for sarcoptic mites on days 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56 and had otoscopeic and/or microscopic examination for the detection of Psoroptes mites on days 7, 14, 42 and 56. Fisher's exact test was used to assess differences between the vehicle and selamectin treatment in the number of rabbits without mites (cure rates) on each assessment date. It was found that significantly fewer selamectin-treated rabbits had mites detected on skin scrapings (for S. scabiei) or otoscopeic and/or microscopic examination (for P. cuniculi) (P < 0.01) than the vehicle group. Results of the present study suggest that selamectin is effective against naturally infestations of P. cuniculi and S. scabiei in rabbits.     

Acute toxicity of ammonia in Meagre (Argyrosomus regius Asso, 1801) at different temperatures

Argyrosomus regius (3.0 ± 0.9 g) were exposed to different concentrations of ammonia in a series of acute toxicity tests by the static renewal method at three temperature levels (18, 22 and 26°C) at a pH of 8.2. Low temperature clearly increased the tolerance of the fish to total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and unionized ammonia (NH₃) (P < 0.05). While the 96‐h LC₅₀ values of TAN were 19.79, 10.39 and 5.06 mg L^?1, the 96‐h LC₅₀ of NH₃ were 1.00, 0.70 and 0.44 mg L^?1 at 18, 22 and 26°C respectively. The safe levels of NH₃ for A. regius was estimated to be 0.10, 0.07 and 0.04 mg L^?1 at 18, 22 and 26°C respectively (P < 0.05). This study clearly indicates that A. regius is more sensitive to ammonia than other marine fish species cultured on the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic coasts.     

Growth,body chemical composition and trypsin activity of South American catfish,surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) juveniles fed different dietary protein and lipid levels

To evaluate protein and lipid requirement of South American catfish surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) juveniles, nine semi‐purified diets containing three levels of protein (40%, 45% and 50%) and three levels of lipid (12%, 16% and 20%) were tested. After 8‐week feeding trial, body weight increase averaged 2124.3 ± 295.7%. Growth performance was significantly affected by dietary level of protein (P < 0.05). At the 40% protein level, increasing level of dietary lipid had a positive effect on final individual mean weight (protein sparing effect). Whole body protein and moisture contents were affected by the dietary level of lipid (P < 0.05). Whole body lipid content positively correlated with the level of dietary lipid (P < 0.05). Cannibalism related mortality was observed despite rearing fish in 24 h dark. Fatty acid composition of fish was affected by the dietary lipid level (P < 0.05). Polyunsaturated fatty acids increased with the increasing level of dietary lipid while saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased. Trypsin activity in the digestive tract of surubim was influenced by dietary levels of protein and lipid (P < 0.05). Our preliminary results suggest that the optimum protein/lipid ratio might be close to 45/16% for surubim juveniles.     

Acute Toxicity of Ammonia and Nitrite to Sea Bream,Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758), in Relation to Salinity

Sea bream, Sparus aurata, is one of the most important fish species that is commonly cultured in the Mediterranean and the eastern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. The life cycle of sea bream in its natural habitat passes through hyposaline and hypersaline lagoons. It is important to determine the tolerance of the fish to nitrogenous compounds for aquaculture at maximum stocking densities. In the present study, a series of acute experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of salinity on ammonia and nitrite toxicity to sea bream. The fish were exposed to different ammonia and nitrite concentrations according to the static renewal methodology at three different salinities (10, 20, and 30 ppt) and at a temperature of 20 C and a pH of 8.2. The toxic effect of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂‐N) decreased with increasing salinity levels (P < 0.001). Acute toxicity (96‐h lethal concentration 50 [LC₅₀]) values of TAN were determined to be 5.93, 11.72, and 19.38 mg/L at 10, 20, and 30 ppt salinity, respectively. The 96‐h LC₅₀ values of NO₂‐N were determined to be 370.80, 619.47, and 806.33 mg/L at 10, 20, and 30 ppt salinity, respectively. Results indicate that sea bream is less tolerant to ammonia but more tolerant to nitrite compared with some other fish species.     

Dietary trans‐cinnamic acid application for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): II. Effect on antioxidant status,digestive enzyme,blood biochemistry and liver antioxidant gene expression responses

The present study investigated the effects of dietary trans‐cinnamic acid (TrCin) on growth performance, biochemical composition, fatty acid composition, blood biochemistry, antioxidant status, digestive enzyme and liver antioxidant gene (EF1α, SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GPX1, GPX4, GR and GST) expression responses of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Five experimental groups of fish with mean weights of 17.49 ± 0.08 g were used in the study; four of them were fed with TrCin‐supplemented diets (0.25 g/kg TrCin25, 0.50 g/kg TrCin50, 0.75 g/kg TrCin75 and 1.50 g/kg TrCin150), whereas an additive‐free basal diet served as the control (Cntr). At the end of the 60‐day feeding trial, the growth performance, biochemical composition and fatty acid composition were similar for all experimental groups. A decrease was observed in intestinal and stomach pH, serum triglyceride and AST, ALT, LDH and ALP levels in fish fed with especially 0.50 g/kg TrCin‐supplemented diet. Moreover, dietary TrCin especially at 0.50 g/kg incorporation level significantly increased the serum SOD and liver SOD2, CAT, GST, GPX1, GPX4 and GR gene expression responses. As a conclusion, feeding rainbow trout for a period of 60 days with a diet containing 0.50 g/kg TrCin might be sufficiently enough to improve the levels of antioxidant enzymes and health status in fish.