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Early weaning of marine fish larvae with dry diets delays gut maturation and reduces growth rates. In juvenile and adult forms of several marine fish species, inclusion of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) improves gut integrity and functionality, but the effects of MOS inclusion in gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata, L.) larval diets have not been addressed yet. Thus, this study assesses the effects of dietary MOS inclusion on survival, growth performance, gut morphology, feed acceptance and quality of gilthead sea bream larvae. For that purpose, 16 days post-hatched gilthead sea bream larvae were fed four graded levels of MOS (Biomos®, Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA) in weaning diets as follows: 0 g kg−1 MOS, 0.5 g kg−1 MOS, 1.5 g kg−1 MOS and 2 g kg−1MOS. Dietary MOS did not affect feed acceptance in gilthead sea bream larvae ( P > 0.05). MOS supplementation was correlated in a dose-dependent way with higher larval survival ( P = 0.026). After 15 days of feeding, dietary MOS increased whole larvae ( P < 0.01) arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Gilthead sea bream larvae fed 2 g kg−1 MOS presented higher gut occupation with goblet cells after feeding compared with larvae fed the other dietary treatments. Overall, the results suggest that inclusion of MOS in early weaning diets for gilthead sea bream improves essential fatty acid utilization and may promote growth and final survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of the following seven experimental diets that varied in the concentration of inactivated cells ofEnterococcus faecalis(Ef) and mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), on Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss: control (C) diet (noEfand no MOS), diet E0.25% (2.5 g/kgEf), diet E0.5% (5 g/kgEf), diet M0.25% (2.5 g/kg MOS), diet M0.5% (5 g/kg MOS), diet EM0.25% (2.5 g/kgEf+ 2.5 g/kg MOS) and diet EM0.5% (5 g/kgEf+ 5 g/kg MOS). Rainbow Trout, initially weighing 36.27 ± 0.42 g (mean ± SD) were distributed into fourteen 60-L glass tanks at a stocking density of 35 fish per tank. Each diet was hand-fed to duplicate groups of fish twice daily for a 12-week period. After the feeding test, an intraperitoneal injection challenge test ofAeromonas salmonicidawas conducted over 14 d. Resulting data were submitted to a multivariate analysis of variance. Weight gain increased significantly (P< 0.05) in E0.25%, M0.25%, and EM0.5% experimental groups compared with the control. Specific growth rate was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in fish fed E0.25%, M0.25%, and EM0.5% diets compared with fish fed the C diet. Feed gain ratio and protein efficiency ratio were significantly improved (P< 0.05) in fish fed the EM0.5% diet compared with fish fed the C diet. Feed intake, protein efficiency ratio, protein retention, and the apparent digestibility coefficient recorded slight differences within experimental groups. Hematocrit value and phagocytic activity were significantly higher (P< 0.05) in fish fed E0.25%, E0.5%, M0.5%, EM0.25%, and EM0.5% diets compared with fish fed the C diet. Except for fish in the E0.25% group, fish in all other experimental groups showed a significantly higher (P< 0.05) mucus weight compared with those in the C group. After the challenge test, cumulative mortality and frequency ofA. salmonicidawere significantly decreased (P< 0.05) in all experimental groups compared with the C group. In conclusion, dosage and single or combined supplementation ofEfand MOS are factors that significantly affect fish performance. Received October 30, 2012; accepted April 13, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of increased zinc dietary levels on the growth performance, feed utilization, immune status and induced wound healing in European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax). Fish weighing 10 g were fed five diets containing organic zinc at 30, 70, 110 and 150 mg kg−1 diet and one inorganic zinc source (zinc oxide) at 150 mg kg−1 diet for a period of 12 weeks. No significant ( P>0.05) differences were found in the growth performance parameters (final weight, specific growth rate), immunological indices tested (respiratory burst activity in whole blood) and the wound-healing process. Zinc accumulation in the skin, vertebrae and liver increased significantly ( P<0.01) with increased dietary zinc levels but not in muscle. The highest zinc concentrations were obtained in skin tissue, followed by vertebrae, liver and muscle tissue. Using the concentration of zinc in skin as a response criterion, broken-line analysis showed that the supplementation of 148 mg organic Zn kg−1 diet seemed to be the optimum dietary zinc supplementation level for sea bass juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of dietary mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the development, gut integrity and quality (in respect of stamina and survivability) of white sea bream Diplodus sargus L. larvae was investigated. White sea bream larvae were held under appropriate rearing conditions and fed Artemia, enriched by A1 DHA Selco™ with the addition or absence of MOS (Bio-Mos®). The results indicated that larval growth performance and survivability were not affected by the MOS supplementation. Light microscopy revealed that MOS supplementation significantly improved the intestinal morphology by increasing the villi surface area by over 12%. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that MOS supplementation increased the microvilli length by 26% compared with the control. Salinity challenge experiments showed that MOS significantly increased larval stamina and survival in both 0 and 60 mg L−1 salinity water by 13% and 22.9% respectively. These improvements in the larval quality at the early stages of fish development are important for the efficiency of intensive hatchery production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of nutritional strategies that optimize natural defence mechanisms in fish is of critical importance in producing robust juveniles and adult fish. These animals are more capable of minimizing the impact of opportunistic pathogen attack, thus improving liveability and performance characteristics. The importance of the piscine gastrointestinal tract as a major endocrine and osmoregulatory organ is well reported as is its function as a defensive barrier to pathogen attack. Investigations using the inclusion of a specific structural form of mannan oligosaccharide have been shown to improve the performance parameters, immune status, and gut morphology and improve an important aspect of barrier protection through the enhancement of mucal production in a number of aquaculture species. The selenium status of an animal is pivotal in determining the success of the innate and adaptive immune response of the animal, and the use of an organic selenium source, in the form of a selenoyeast, has been shown to improve enzyme function and tissue uptake. The antioxidant role of many of the selenoptroteins and the role of selenium in the glutathione peroxidase enzyme pathways involved in the control of oxidative stress is critical if oxidative damage and cell membrane lipid peroxidation are to be prevented. The use of these compounds as feed additives has important implications for health management in commercial aquaculture facilities. Further research is needed to evaluate the benefits offered by a range of commercial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on two major restructuring exercises, described in a public relations document as "adjustments designed to achieve a more integrated and coherent defense organization" that have been carried out in the Ministry of Defense in Great Britain. As specialized knowledge and greater managerial expertise became available to the departments of state towards the close of the nineteenth century more centralized and more effective direction of government business developed. The Boer War revealed alarming deficiencies in the planning and conduct of operations and a commission afterwards highlighted absence of effective professional defense service advice for the Government.

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This essay examines the visual culture of 18th-century India in the light of recent historiographical debates in art history, postcolonial studies and anthropology. It seeks to highlight the exciting new developments in this long neglected field to explore how and why scholars of the visual are now rising to the challenge of the 'imperial turn'. My argument foregrounds the relationship between knowledge, power and representation before turning to the issue and the danger of viewing empire as a ubiquitous presence in British and Indian art. I consider whether we need to provincialize Europe or whether 'Europe' (i.e. the Western episteme broadly defined) is already 'parochial' in outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]