Availability of genetically modified soybean meal in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss diets

The use of genetically modified defatted soybean meal (GM SBM) as rainbow trout feed was investigated, in comparison with non-GM SBM. Both SBMs were included at levels of approximately 15 and 30% in four diets (42% protein). The diets were fed to juvenile fish (48.3 g average weight) for 12 weeks. The nutrient use showed that there was no significant difference in growth and feed performance between GM and non-GM SBM groups at both inclusion levels at the end of 12th week. The cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter fragment (220 bp) of the GM SBM was detected in the muscle of fish receiving both levels of GM SBM diet by nested PCR, but the frequency of detection was greater at the higher inclusion level. Additionally, the promoter fragment was not detected by the fifth day after changing the diet to non-GM. Conversely, the promoter fragment was not detected from fish fed with the non-GM SBM diet. The results demonstrated that the availability of protein in GM SBM was similar to that of non-GM SBM, and the promoter fragments found in the muscle of fish were not detectable after changing the diet to non-GM, verifying the availability of the GM SBM in rainbow trout feed.     

Pharmacokinetics of oxolinic acid in black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, and the effect of cooking on residues

This study examined the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of oxolinic acid (OA) in black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon Fabricius, in brackish water (salinity 10 g L^?1) at 28–29°C, after intra‐sinus (10 mg kg^?1) and oral (50 mg kg^?1) administration and also investigated the net changes of OA residues in the shrimp after cooking (boiling, baking and frying). The haemolymph concentrations of OA after intra‐sinus dosing were best described by a two‐compartment open model. The distribution and elimination half‐lives were 0.84 and 17.7 h respectively. The apparent volume of distribution at a steady state and the total body clearance were estimated to be 2061 mL kg^?1 and 90.1 mL kg^?1 h^?1 respectively. The bioavailability of OA after an oral administration was 7.9%. The peak haemolymph concentration, the time to peak haemolymph concentration and the elimination half‐life after oral administration were 4.20 μg mL^?1, 4 h and 19.8 h respectively. Oxolinic acid muscle and shell levels increased to a maximum (muscle 1.76 μg g^?1 and shell 8.17 μg g^?1) at 4 h post administration and then decreased with the elimination half‐life value of 20.2 and 21.9 h respectively. Residual OA in muscle and shell was reduced by 20–30% by each cooking procedure examined.     

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida haem receptor gene

A haem receptor gene from Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (formerly known as Pasteurella piscicida) has been cloned, sequenced and analysed for its function. The gene, designated as pph, has an open reading frame consisting of 2154 bp, a predicted 718 amino acid residues and exists as a single copy. It is homologous with the haem receptors of Vibrio anguillarum hupA, V. cholerae hutA, V. mimicus mhuA and V. vulnificus hupA at 32.7, 32.7, 45.6 and 30.9%, respectively, and is highly conserved, consisting of a Phe-Arg-Ala-Pro sequence (FRAP), an iron transport related molecule (TonB) and a Asn-Pron-Asn-Leu sequence (NPNL), binding motifs associated with haem receptors. As a single gene knockout mutant P. damselae subsp. piscicida was able to bind haem in the absence of pph, suggesting that other receptors may be involved in its iron transport system. This study shows that the P. damselae subsp. piscicida pph belongs to the haem receptor family, is conserved and that its iron-binding system may involve more than one receptor.     

Amino acid-chelate: a better source of Zn, Mn and Cu for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study aimed to evaluate the amino acid-chelated trace elements as dietary supplement to rainbow trout. Three diets were formulated containing trace elements either from the inorganic salt (SF) or amino acid-chelate (AM). Diets 1 (SF) and 2 (AM) contained the same amount of trace elements from inorganic and amino acid-chelates, respectively. Diet 3 (AM-Hf) was added with trace elements from amino acid-chelatex at one-half of their levels in Diets 1 and 2. Each diet was fed for 15 weeks to three groups of 30 fish each, with an average weight of 1.52±0.21 g. Growth of fish was not affected by the treatment (P>0.05). However, bone (P<0.01) and liver (P<0.05) Cu contents were higher in the AM than the SF group. Similarly, hematocrit level (P<0.05) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (P<0.01) were higher in the chelate-fed fish. Further, DNA polymerase and CuZnSOD expression in the AM group was highly upregulated (P<0.05) compared to the SF fed fish as quantified by RT-PCR. Absorption and whole body retention of Mn and Zn from the AM were higher (P<0.05) than the inorganic salt. Half supplementation of those fed the elements from AM was at par with the full provision from the inorganic source tested.     

Distribution of the Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus during winter in the northern Sea of Japan, along the west coast of Hokkaido, based on aerial and land sighting surveys

Aerial and land-based sighting surveys were conducted to clarify the distribution of Steller sea lions during winter in the northern Sea of Japan, along the west coast of Hokkaido, from 2001 to 2003. Aerial surveys revealed that sea lions gathered around the Rishiri-Rebun Islands in March 2002 and 2003, and between Iwanai and Cape Obana in February 2003. Higher numbers of sea lions were also confirmed at Cape Ofuyu and Cape Kamui on the central-west coast compared to that at the haul-out sites in the 1980s on the upper-west coast in March 2002 and 2003. Additionally, fisherman observed sea lions along the coast of the Tsugaru Strait from February to May 2003, where the presence of sea lions was not reported in the 1980s. These facts suggest that sea lions have recently expanded their distribution southward. Land-based surveys at the recent haul-out sites indicated that sea lions in the central-west coast were composed mainly of adult and subadult males (average: Cape Ofuyu 75.2%, Cape Kamui 69.5%), which stayed from November 2002 to May 2003. In this area, sea lions arrived earlier and stayed longer than in the 1980s.     

Chromospheric anemone jets as evidence of ubiquitous reconnection

The heating of the solar chromosphere and corona is a long-standing puzzle in solar physics. Hinode observations show the ubiquitous presence of chromospheric anemone jets outside sunspots in active regions. They are typically 3 to 7 arc seconds = 2000 to 5000 kilometers long and 0.2 to 0.4 arc second = 150 to 300 kilometers wide, and their velocity is 10 to 20 kilometers per second. These small jets have an inverted Y-shape, similar to the shape of x-ray anemone jets in the corona. These features imply that magnetic reconnection similar to that in the corona is occurring at a much smaller spatial scale throughout the chromosphere and suggest that the heating of the solar chromosphere and corona may be related to small-scale ubiquitous reconnection.     

Crystal Structure of the High-Pressure Phase of Solid CO2

X-ray diffraction study of solid CO(2) at room temperature has shown that the powder pattern of the high-pressure phase, which supersedes the low-pressure cubic Pa3 phase at about 10 gigapascals, is consistently interpreted in terms of an orthorhombic Cmca structure. The orthorhombic cell at 11.8 gigapascals has dimensions of 4.330 +/- 0.015, 4.657 +/- 0.005, 5.963 +/- 0.009 angstroms for its a, b, and c faces, respectively, and a volume of 120.3 +/- 0.5 cubic angstroms. Four molecules contained in the unit cell are located at the base-centered positions with their molecular axes inclined at about 52 degrees with respect to the crystallographic c axis. The volume change associated with the Pa3-Cmca transition is close to zero. The structural dimensions obtained for the high-pressure crystalline phase of CO(2) are of great importance for a theoretical understanding of the role of intermolecular interactions, including quadrupole-quadrupole interactions, in molecular condensation.     

Some Measurement Results on Sulfate Aerosol Concentration in and above a Pine Canopy

Profile of sulfate aerosol (SO₄ ^2?) concentration was measured for four days at six heights in and above a 15m-high canopy of pine plantation during 6th and 10th August. 1999. The concentration was the lowest (about 2 nmol/m³) on 6th, and gradually increased to 9th showing the maximum values of about 13 nmol/m³, and then decreased to 2 nmol/m³ on 10th. The vertical profiles of SO₄ ^2? concentration showed mostly higher in the canopy than above the canopy. As for the vertical profiles above the canopy on 8th and 10th, the minimum was observed just above the canopy (16m), showing SO₄ ^2? transport from the upper air layer to the canopy. While on 9th the profiles that are higher concentration just above the canopy and lower at the upper air layer were observed, suggesting SO₄ ^2? emission from the canopy to the upper air layer.