Generation of reactive oxygen species by a novel anthraquinone derivative in the cyanobacterium Planktothrix perornata (Skuja)

A water-soluble anthraquinone derivative (2-[methylamino-N-(1′-methylethyl)]-9,10-anthraquinone monophosphate), previously found to be selectively toxic towards Planktothrix perornata at submicromolar concentrations, was studied to determine its toxic mode of action towards this cyanobacterium. Chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored as an indicator of photosynthetic efficiency, and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was performed using the ROS-sensitive probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. The effects of the herbicide paraquat (a ROS generator) as well as ascorbate and α-tocopherol (ROS scavengers) on ROS formation by P. perornata were studied. Also, the effects of different concentrations of ascorbate, α-tocopherol, and the herbicide diuron on reducing the toxicity of the water-soluble anthraquinone derivative towards P. perornata were determined. Our results indicate that the water-soluble anthraquinone derivative does not inhibit photosynthetic electron transport directly, but does generate ROS at levels that may cause toxicity towards P. perornata.     

The dynamics of an exploited population of a siluroid catfish (Schilbe intermidius Reupell 1832) in the Cross River, Nigeria

We studied the breeding biology, growth, mortality, recruitment pattern and yield per recruit of a freshwater siluroid catfish (Schilbe intermedius) in the Cross River, Nigeria. Monthly variation in mean gonadosomatic and mean condition indices shows that the species breeds twice in a year (March and September). We used 12 consecutive months length–frequency data together with FiSAT software to study the population dynamics of this catfish which is exploited by artisanal fishermen. Fitting the seasonalized von Bertalanffy growth function to our length–frequency data gives the following growth parameters: L_∞=27.5 cm total length, K=0.29 yr⁻¹, C=0.5, WP=0.46. Using the seasonalized length converted catch curve, we estimated the instantaneous total mortality coefficient Z as 1.85 yr⁻¹. The instantaneous natural mortality coefficient M was 0.81 yr⁻¹ while the instantaneous fishing mortality coefficient F was 1.04 yr⁻¹, giving the current exploitation rate E=0.56. From the analysis of probability of capture of each length class we estimated the length at first capture L_c to be 10.9 cm. The relative yield per recruit analysis predicted the maximum exploitation rate E_max=0.54. The current exploitation rate E is more than this predicted maximum E_max. Thus, the species is on the verge of being overexploited.     

Influence of Washing and Cold Storage on Lipid and Protein Oxidation in Catfish (Clarias lazera) Surimi

ABSTRACT

Lipid and protein oxidation in catfish (Clarias lazera) surimi during processing and storage were assessed. Catfish surimi were washed in deionized water: M0 (no washing step), M1 (one washing step), and M2 (two washing steps). Lipid, protein, water, and iron contents were determined. M0, M1, and M2 were stored for 0, 1, 4, 7, or 10 days at 4 ± 1°C; at each time point, samples were removed for analyses. Lipid oxidation was assessed by measuring malondialdehyde content. Protein oxidation was assessed by measuring protein solubility and protein sulfhydryl and carbonyl group contents. Based on the results, lipid content, L* and a* (color parameters), and fatty acid content in M1 and M2 were significantly reduced. Lipid oxidation development was faster in M1, and the ranking was as follows: M1 > M2 > M0, with M0 being significantly less oxidized than M1. Increasing the number of washes increased protein oxidation, and the ranking was follows: M2 > M1 > M0. Altogether, lipid and protein oxidation and physicochemical changes occurred simultaneously to different degrees in surimi during various processing and storage conditions.     

Farm-level costs of settling basins for treatment of effluents from levee-style catfish ponds

Compelled by pending regulatory rule changes, settling basins have been proposed as a treatment alternative for catfish pond effluents, but the associated costs to catfish farmers have not been estimated. Economic engineering techniques were used to design 160 scenarios as a basis for estimating total investment and total annual costs. For static-water, levee-style catfish pond facilities, sizing of settling basins is controlled by factors such as type of effluent to be treated, pond layout, size of the largest foodfish pond, number of drainage directions, scope of regulations governing effluents, and the availability of land. Regulations that require settling basins on catfish farms would increase total investment cost on catfish farms by $126–2990 ha⁻¹ and total annual per-ha costs by $19–367 ha⁻¹. More numerous drainage directions on farms resulted in the greatest increase in costs. While both investment and operating costs increased with larger sizes of foodfish ponds, costs per ha were relatively greater on smaller than on larger farms. For farms on which existing fish ponds would have to be converted to settling basins, over half of the cost was due to the production foregone and annual fixed costs of the pond. Requiring catfish farmers to construct settling basins would impose a disproportionately greater financial burden on smaller farms. The magnitude of the increased costs associated with settling basins was too high relative to market prices of catfish for this technology to be economically feasible.     

Inelastic Seismic Response of Ordinary Reinforced Concrete Regular Frames

With an inelastic dynamic analysis program developed by the authors, seismic response analysis of regular RC frames designed to Chinese codes in different earthquake fortification zones are carried out. The results indicate that the displacement responses of structures are improved due to the more rigorous limitation on the inter-story drift under frequent earthquakes in the revised codes. The frames in seismic-intensity-9 zone designed to the former codes and the revised codes form plastic energy-dissipated mechanisms mostly With beam hinges, which can satisfy the requirement of seismic performance expectably. The frame in seismic-intensity-8 zone designed to the former code forms a plastic energy- dissipated mechanisms mostly with column hinges and shows a risk of occurrence of story-sway mechanism, while the frame in seismic-intensity-8 zone designed to the revised codes exhibits a relatively improved seismic performance but still with excessive column hinges, which suggests a need to further increase the column moment amplification measures for this kind of frames. The frame in seismic-intensity-7 zone shows a somewhat improved seismic performance than the frames in seismic-intensity-8 zone, but the protection to columns by the seismic measures is sill insufficient, which indicates that the column moment amplification measures for this kind of frames should be enhanced further.     

地震波作用下高层框剪结构的非线性动力响应

In this paper, a method is presented for analysing the nonlinear dynamic response of R/C frame-wall structure under a strong earthguake ground motion. Based on the assumption that the bending stiffness of injured member is in a parabolic distribution, a n     

Experimental Investigation of Steel Frames with Infill Prefabricated Reinforce-Concrete Shear Walls

In order to improve seismic performance of steel frame with prefabricated reinforce-concrete infill shear walls (SFCW), the ear bar device was used in the connection between the steel frame and the infill wall. Two one-bay, two story and one-third scaled models of SFCW were tested with low cyclic load. The working performance of ear bar connection, the cracks development in infill walls and deformation performance of SFCW were investigated. And the failure mode, hysteretic behavior,stiffness degradation,deformation and ductility and energy dissipation of composite structure were analyzed. The comparison study of steel frame with prefabricated, cast-in-place and silt reinforce-concrete infill shear walls was carried out. The results show that no failure occurs in the connection between the steel frame and the infill wall because ear plates below and up the beam-to-column connections are added in the specimens, and the connection device of ear plate presents good working performance. The properly designed SFCW has good ductility.     

罗非鱼鱼排蛋白酶解液美拉德反应生香工艺优化研究

为了对罗非鱼鱼排蛋白酶解液美拉德反应生香工艺进行研究,以风味总体接受性为指标,对反应温度、时间、pH值、还原糖添加量4个因素采用响应面法进行多元回归拟合,优化美拉德反应条件,并用HPLC、GC-MS对反应产物进行分析。结果表明：美拉德反应最佳工艺条件为反应时间57 min,反应温度111℃,pH 6.0,还原糖（葡萄糖:木糖=2:1）添加量2.0%;反应产物中有机酸含量较反应前酶解液中有机酸含量丰富,核酸关联物较反应前多了呈味的鸟苷酸;反应产物中挥发性成分包括68种风味化合物,分别是醇类6种、醛类7种、酮类5种、芳香族7种、酯类11种、呋喃8种、吡嗪9种、吡咯1种、烃类7种、酸类5种和含硫化合物2种。罗非鱼鱼排蛋白酶解液经美拉德反应,产物呈透明红褐色,具有独特的鱼香味（香味浓郁）。     

Evaluation of Diquat as a Potential Algicide for Controlling the Musty-Odor-Producing Cyanobacterium,Oscillatoria perornata,in Catfish Aquaculture Ponds

ABSTRACT

The synthetic herbicide diquat was applied to a catfish aquaculture pond containing a heavy bloom of the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata(a major contributor to musty off-flavor in farm-raised catfish) in order to determine the effectiveness of diquat as a selective algicide to prevent musty off-flavor in cultured catfish. Levels of the musty-odor compound 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and numbers of O. perornata were monitored. Results indicate that diquat is not useful as an algicide for controlling O. perornata in catfish aquaculture ponds, despite its usefulness in controlling other aquatic weeds.