Ability of salmon growth hormone to accelerate somatic growth of juvenil abalone Haliotis discus hannai

ABSTRACT:   The ability of salmon growth hormone (sGH) to accelerate the somatic growth of juvenile abalone Haliotis discus hannai by immersion was examined. After immersion for one hour into a sGH-rich solution at a concentration of 30 mg/L, the sGH immunoreactivity in the body fluid of abalone was maximal after one day, and levels were still detectable at two days. No immunoreactivity was observed in the control group. Following immersion for one hour at one or two-week intervals for 120 weeks into the sGH-rich solution at 30 mg/L, the sGH-immersed abalone exhibited a significant increase in shell length and body weight. On the other hand, abalone immersed into a salmon prolactin (sPRL)-rich solution at 30 mg/L for one hour showed a lower increase in both shell length and body weight than the sGH-immersed abalone. No increases in shell length and body weight were observed in either the bovine serum albumin-immersed abalone or untreated controls. These results provide evidence that sGH can be transported from ambient water into the circulatory system of abalone, and can subsequently improve the somatic growth of juveniles.     

Effects of Dietary Vitamin C on Blood Chemistry and Nonspecific Immune Response of Juvenile Red Sea Bream,Pagrus major

A trial was conducted to determine the effect of ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate Na/Ca (AMP‐Na/Ca) on blood chemistry and nonspecific immune response of red sea bream juveniles. Test diets with three levels of AsA (free, 107, and 325 mg/kg diet) were fed to juvenile red sea bream (36.0 ± 1.3 g) two times a day for 3 wk. There were no significant differences in hematocrit, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen. Total cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma of fish fed AsA‐free diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed two other diets. There were no significant differences in serum albumin, total bilirubin, and total serum protein. Glutamyl oxaloacetic transaminase in serum of fish fed diets containing 107 and 325 mg of AsA were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of fish fed AsA‐free diet. Serum lysozyme activity (LA) of fish fed diets containing 107 and 325 mg of AsA were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed AsA‐free diet. There was no significant difference in mucus LA. The results mentioned above demonstrated that AMP‐Na/Ca is a bioavailable AsA source for red sea bream juveniles. Supplement of more than 107 mg AsA/kg in diets improved blood chemistry and nonspecific immune function of red sea bream juveniles.     

Can fermented soybean meal and squid by‐product blend be used as fishmeal replacements for Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)?

An experiment was carried out to evaluate fermented soybean meal and squid by‐product blend (1:1) (FP) as replacement of fishmeal (FM) for Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Five isocaloric (19 kJ g^?1) diets were prepared by replacing 0 (FP0), 12 (FP12), 24 (FP24), 36 (FP36) and 48% (FP48) FM protein with FP. Triplicate groups of juveniles (mean weight of 3.9 g) were delivered the test diets for 8 weeks in a flow‐through sea water system. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the growth rates of fish fed FP0, FP12, FP24 and FP36 diets. Growth and nutrient utilization parameters were significantly reduced in fish fed FP48 diet. Although, whole body proximate composition of fish were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments compared to the control; methionine and phenylalanine contents were significantly decreased in FP48 group. Protein retention was also significantly decreased in the similar group of fish. Dietary treatments did not alter most of the plasma metabolites, while some of the health parameters were improved in the replacement groups. Results suggested that FP is a potential candidate for alternative protein ingredient in aquafeed and can replace 36% FM protein in the diet of Japanese flounder.     

Effect of high inclusion of rendered animal by‐product ingredients on growth,digestibility and economic performances in climbing perch Anabas testudineus

A 70‐day growth trail was conducted to investigate the effects of inclusion of high levels of meat and bone meal (MBM) and protein concentrate (PC) on growth, digestibility and economic performances of climbing perch, Anabas testudineus. Four isonitrogenous diets were formulated by lowering the level of dietary fishmeal protein at 0 (D₁, control), 70 (D₂), 85 (D₃) and 100% (D₄) with a mixture of MBM and PC protein (1:1). Triplicate groups of 300 fish (mean weight of 0.80 g) stocked in each 40 m² pond and fed the respective test diets. A digestibility trial was conducted after the growth trial in indoor glass aquarium. The result showed that growth parameters were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with fishmeal replacement levels. However, significant differences were not found in feed conversion ratio and survival of fish. No difference was also found in protein efficiency ratio among D1, D2 and D3. Similar to growth parameters, total fish production was highest in D1, intermediate in D2 and D3; and lowest in D4. Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein and lipid were highest (P < 0.05) in D1 and lowest in D4. The economic analysis revealed that the benefit cost ratio was ranked by D₃ (1.81), D₂ (1.71), D₁ (1.66) and D₄ (1.46) respectively. Upon considering the overall performances and unavailability of finite protein sources, it can be concluded that 70–85% fishmeal could be replaced with a mixture of MBM and PC (1:1) in practical diets for climbing perch.     

Post-exposure treatment of cats with mouse-cat chimeric antibodies against feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline calicivirus

In order to confirm the in vivo effectiveness of anti- feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) mouse-cat chimeric antibody (FJH2), and anti-feline calicivirus (FCV) mouse-cat chimeric antibody (F1D7), cats that had been experimentally infected with FHV-1 or FCV were administered intravenously with the chimeric antibodies, and observed for clinical manifestations. The symptoms due to FHV-1 or FCV infection in the cats administered FJH2 or F1D7 were obviously decreased when compared with those of the non-administered control cats. From these results, it was confirmed that both FJH2 and F1D7 were effective at reducing the appearance of symptoms due to FHV-1 and FCV infection, respectively.     

Fungal cell wall degrading enzyme-producing bacterium enhances the biocontrol efficacy of antibiotic-producing bacterium against cabbage yellows

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The antagonistic rhizobacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LRB3W1, controls cabbage Fusarium yellows caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans...     

Development of wooden portal frame structures with improved columns

In Japan, the lifetime cycle of most housing lasts around 20–30 years. A governing factor in this respect is poor durability due to old-fashioned use of the house. As a solution of this problem, houses can be built with a skeleton structure that allows free partition of spaces by future owners. To develop the skeleton structure effectively, multistory frames with spans of 6 to 10 m are required. For this reason, attention has been focused on the behavior of multistory timber frame structures. In this article, two types of wooden portal frame structures are proposed. Both structures have improved vertical columns with short horizontal members glued in. The aim of this study was to investigate structurally effective solutions with these types of columns. The first type of the new structure changed the location of the moment-transmitting ductile connection with the improved columns. The second type of structure used an extended panel zone. Nine portal frame specimens were tested. The stiffness values were improved by around 1.7 and 3.5 times when compared with the control, and the strength was improved by around 1.25 and 1.45 times.     

Spatially distributed morphological characteristics of macropores in forest soils of Hitachi Ohta Experimental Watershed, Japan

Morphological characteristics of macropores in forest soil profiles were investigated at Hitachi Ohta Experimental Watershed in Japan. Nine individual profiles at different locations (various spatial scales in a catchment) and twenty profiles at one site (a small spatial scale) were excavated to the bedrock to investigate density, origin, diameter, direction, and gradient of macropores. Macropore densities in a soil profile ranged from 3.5 to 29.1 per m and from 5.4 to 75.1 per m², respectively. Subsurface erosion, root channels, and interactions between subsurface erosion and root channels accounted for 36.9, 36.5, and 19.0%, of the described macropores. The mean macropore diameter in organic-rich soil layer (17–20 mm) was larger than in the B horizon (11–14 mm) at both spatial scales. The dominant gradients of all macropores in the organic-rich soil layer and B horizon were at negative oblique angles. Approximately 90% of the macropores in the organic-rich soil layer and approximately 80% of the macropores in the B horizon fell within the range between −50 and 50 degree planar direction. Subsurface flow and root systems are believed to play important roles in determining the morphological characteristics of macropores. These characteristics appear to have variable influences in different soil horizons rather than at different spatial scales. A part of this paper was presented at the 103th (1992) and 105th (1994) Annual Meetings of Japanese Forestry Society.     

Vertical profiles of environmental factors within tropical rainforest, Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia

Environmental factors, such as global solar radiation, wind speed, air temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration, were measured above and within the canopy of a tropical rainforest in Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Few data concerning the environment of this forest have been reported. Intensive observations were carried out in 1998, 1999, and 2000 with the following results: (1) The fraction of global solar radiation reaching the upper layer of the canopy varied with global solar radiation above the canopy. Even though the global solar radiation above the canopy fluctuated, the fraction of that reaching the lower canopy and the ground was constantly approximately 5%. (2) The fraction of wind speed reaching each layer of the canopy increased with wind speed above the canopy. Little wind was usually present at the lower canopy. (3) The daytime air temperature at the canopy top was higher than that near the ground. The maximum difference between the air temperature at the canopy top and that at the ground was about 5°C, and the diurnal temperature ranges at the canopy top and those at the ground were about 8°C and about 5°C, respectively. The highest daytime water vapor pressure occurred within the canopy and particularly near the ground. Vertical gradients of water vapor pressure during the day were steep, probably because of high transpiration. (4) In the 1998 observation the minimum and the maximum CO₂ concentrations were 360 ppm in the day and 450 ppm at night, while in the 2000 observation the minimum and the maximum CO₂ concentrations were 350 ppm in the day and 540 ppm at night. The higher CO₂ concentration in the daytime and the lower concentration at night observed during the 1998 observation period were probably due to reduced photosynthesis and soil respiration caused by exceptional dry conditions during the observation period.     

Acoustic emission monitoring during partial compression to detect early stages of decay

Summary The acoustic emissions (AEs) under partially compression were monitored with two softwood and one hardwood specimens in very eary stages of decay by a brown- and a white-rot fungus. Even slightly decayed specimens emitted AEs immediately after beginning of loading, typically when partial compression stress was applied to brown-rotted wood with the flat-headed attachment. With sound specimens of three wood species, only a few AEs were generated until the load reached at the proportional limit. These results suggest that AE monitoring will be one of the feasible means to detect the incipient stages of decay in a field test.The authors thank the Weyerhaeuser Research Grants Program for its aid in this investigation