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Stereoselective syntheses of new pyranopyrans that are related to the natural product diplopyrone, which is a phytotoxin implicated in cork oak decline, have been achieved from carbohydrate starting materials in two approaches that are based on

Recent advances are enabling delivery of precision genomic medicine to cancer clinics. While the majority of approaches profile panels of selected genes or hotspot regions, comprehensive data provided by whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing and analysis (WGTA) present an opportunity to align a much larger proportion of patients to therapies.Samples from 570 patients with advanced or metastatic cancer of diverse types enrolled in the Personalized OncoGenomics (POG) program underwent WGTA. DNA-based data, including mutations, copy number and mutation signatures, were combined with RNA-based data, including gene expression and fusions, to generate comprehensive WGTA profiles. A multidisciplinary molecular tumour board used WGTA profiles to identify and prioritize clinically actionable alterations and inform therapy. Patient responses to WGTA-informed therapies were collected.Clinically actionable targets were identified for 83% of patients, of which 37% of patients received WGTA-informed treatments. RNA expression data were particularly informative, contributing to 67% of WGTA-informed treatments; 25% of treatments were informed by RNA expression alone. Of a total 248 WGTA-informed treatments, 46% resulted in clinical benefit. RNA expression data were comparable to DNA-based mutation and copy number data in aligning to clinically beneficial treatments. Genome signatures also guided therapeutics including platinum, poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors and immunotherapies. Patients accessed WGTA-informed treatments through clinical trials (19%), off-label use (35%) and as standard therapies (46%) including those which would not otherwise have been the next choice of therapy, demonstrating the utility of genomic information to direct use of chemotherapies as well as targeted therapies.Integrating RNA expression and genome data illuminated treatment options that resulted in 46% of treated patients experiencing positive clinical benefit, supporting the use of comprehensive WGTA profiling in clinical cancer care.

The preharvest off-flavors “earthy” and “musty” can occur in fish raised in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) rendering them unpalatable and unmarketable. These off-flavors are due to the acc...

Given tilapia grown in the biofloc technology production system can consume the biofloc, it should be possible to optimize formulated diet protein content to account for nutrition derived from consuming biofloc. The present study, conducted in an outdoor biofloc technology production system, evaluated impacts on fish production indices, common microbial off-flavors, and water quality dynamics for hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis aureus × O. niloticus) fed diets formulated to contain 22.5%, 27.7%, and 32.3% digestible protein (DP) and 6% lipid. Fingerlings (32.2 ± 10.1 g/fish) were stocked in tanks (18.6 m2; 16.6 m3) in May 2016 at 25/m2 (29/m3) and grown for 5 months to market size. At harvest, fish fed the 22.5% DP diet were significantly smaller (518 g/fish) and had significantly higher feed conversion (1.5) than those fed the higher DP diets (553–564 g/fish and 1.4, respectively). Feed nitrogen input and nitrification rate increased linearly with increased DP. Results of this study suggest that by using ideal protein theory to formulate diets supplemented with the first four limiting amino acids (Lys, Met, Thr, Ile) digestible protein can be reduced from 32.3% to 27.7% without adversely affecting hybrid tilapia productivity indices. Market size distributions, nutrient retention, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin off-flavors, and pond water quality dynamics in relation to diet DP also are discussed.

IntroductionInvestigations of auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) in children started around 2012 in the United States. The team at the University of Southern California-Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication began seeing children, implanted abroad, in 2006. ABIs are indicated for children who cannot benefit from cochlear implants (CIs). The habilitation and educational needs of children with ABIs versus CIs differ.PurposeThis document provides information professionals can use when implementing habilitation programs for children with ABIs.MethodThe University of Southern California-Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication, as part of the Los Angeles Pediatric ABI team, is conducting an ABI safety and feasibility clinical trial. This article shares experiences from the viewpoint of a multidisciplinary team. The article provides background knowledge, an outcomes review, and considerations to guide ABI intervention.ResultsABIs and CIs differ in the acoustic information they provide. Outcome studies suggest progress is slow with ABIs but that children can develop some auditory or spoken language skills. The children require highly supportive learning experiences. Visual communication support remains important. The considerations outlined reflect the children's need for explicit instruction.ConclusionsWhen serving children with ABIs, therapists must apply their broad knowledge about working with children with hearing loss, tempering that knowledge, and recognizing that auditory access and progress differ with ABIs compared to CIs. Educational and program placement decisions may require unconventional thinking.

Peracetic acid (PAA) is an effective disinfectant/sanitizer for certain industrial applications. PAA has been described as a powerful oxidant capable of producing water quality benefits comparable to those expected with ozone application; however, the water oxidizing capacity of PAA in aquaculture systems and its effects on fish production require further investigation, particularly within recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). To this end, a trial was conducted using six replicated RAS; three operated with semi-continuous PAA dosing and three without PAA addition, while culturing rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Three target PAA doses (0.05, 0.10, and 0.30 mg/L) were evaluated at approximately monthly intervals. A water recycle rate >99% was maintained and system hydraulic retention time averaged 2.7 days. Rainbow trout performance metrics including growth, survival, and feed conversion ratio were not affected by PAA dosing. Water quality was unaffected by PAA for most tested parameters. Oxidative reduction potential increased directly with PAA dose and was greater (P < 0.05) in RAS where PAA was added, indicating the potential for ORP to monitor PAA residuals. True color was lower (P < 0.05) in RAS with target PAA concentrations of 0.10 and 0.30 mg/L. Off-flavor (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) levels in culture water, biofilm, and trout fillets were not affected by PAA dosing under the conditions of this study. Overall, semi-continuous PAA dosing from 0.05-0.30 mg/L was compatible with rainbow trout performance and RAS operation, but did not create water quality improvements like those expected when applying low-dose ozone.

The phytotoxin diplopyrone is considered to be the main phytotoxin in a fungus that is responsible for cork oak decline. A carbohydrate-based synthesis of the enantiomer of the structure proposed for diplopyrone has been developed from a commercially available derivative of d-galactose. Key steps in the synthesis are a highly stereoselective pyranose chain-extension based on methyltitanium, preparation of a vinyl glycoside via Isobe C-alkynylation-rearrangement/reduction, and RCM-based pyranopyran construction. Crystallographic and NMR analysis confirms an earlier report that the structure originally proposed for diplopyrone may require revision. Structural analogues were prepared for biological evaluation, the most promising being a pyranopyran nitrile synthesized from tri- O-acetyl-d-galactal by Ferrier cyanoglycosidation, Wittig chain extension, and lactonization. Biological assays revealed potent antibacterial activity for the nitrile analogue against common bacterial pathogens Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare that cause enteric septicemia (ESC) and columnaris disease, respectively, in catfish. The IC50 value of 0.002 against E. ictaluri indicates approximately 100 times greater potency than the antibiotic florfenicol used commercially for this disease. Phytotoxic activity for all three target compounds against duckweed was also observed. The antibiotic and phytotoxic activities of the new pyranopyrans synthesized in this study demonstrate the potential of such compounds as antibiotics and herbicides.

Total suspended solids control was evaluated in a channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) biofloc technology production system. Settling chamber flow rates were 0.9 (LO) or 2.9 (HI) L/min to ...

Bacterial diseases cause major financial damage to the producers of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the southeastern USA. The two most common bacterial diseases among pond-raised Channel Catfish are enteric septicemia of catfish, caused by the gram-negative bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri, and columnaris disease, caused by the rod-shaped, gram-negative bacterium Flavobacterium columnare. Streptococcosis is another, less-common bacterial disease in catfish and is caused by the gram-positive coccus Streptococcus iniae. Catfish farmers typically rely on commercial antibiotics and other chemicals to prevent the economic damage from these diseases. Environmentally benign and efficacious alternatives to the currently used antibiotics and chemicals will tremendously help the catfish aquaculture industry. As part of our ongoing efforts in the search for such novel compounds, we investigated ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of mangosteen Garcinia mangostana fruit pericarp via bioassay-guided fractionation. Gamma-mangostin (γ-mangostin) was isolated and identified as the most promising active metabolite against F. columnare. One of the constituents in the mangosteen fruit pericarp, alpha-mangostin (α-mangostin), is the major xanthone; α-mangostin was found to be 10-fold less active than γ-mangostin when minimum inhibitory concentration values were compared.

The auditory brainstem implant (ABI) is an auditory sensory device that is surgically placed on the cochlear nucleus of the brainstem for individuals who are deaf but unable to benefit from a cochlear implant (CI) due to anatomical abnormalities of the cochlea and/or eighth nerve, specific disease processes, or temporal bone fractures. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized a Phase I clinical trial to determine safety and feasibility of the ABI in up to 10 eligible young children who are deaf and either derived no benefit from the CI or were anatomically unable to receive a CI. In this paper, we describe the study protocol and the children who have enrolled in the study thus far. In addition, we report the scores on speech perception, speech production, and language (spoken and signed) for five children with 1-3 years of assessment post-ABI activation. To date, the results indicate that spoken communication skills are slow to develop and that visual communication remains essential for post-ABI intervention.

Background Research has confirmed a lack of knowledge regarding the risks of unused medications including diversion, misuse, or accidental overdose among health care professionals (Abdulmajeed, 2020). Nurses and pharmacists are often who patients interact with the most regarding medications; therefore, early education on proper storage and disposal is vital (Bowen, Rotz, Patterson, & Sen, 2017; Celio, Ninane, Bugnon, & Schneider, 2018). Objectives The study's objective is to explore safe drug storage and disposal knowledge, attitudes, and practices of professional pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and nursing students. Design This research is an exploratory cross-sectional study from May to September 2019. Methods An anonymous online survey was administered to a purposive sample of Pharm.D. and nursing students who were 18 years and older and enrolled in the site's accredited Pharm.D. and nursing programs (N = 210). Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Common disposal methods reported by students of their personal medications such as pills and liquids included discarding medications with the household trash (range 30% to 55%) and medication disposal products/bag (range 19% to 28%). More than half of the participants (50.4%) had unused prescription medication at home, 35% kept the medication for later use, and almost 20% of the participants reported sharing personal medications with others. Conclusion Although the majority of student participants had adequate knowledge of the appropriate methods for safe drug disposal, few reported using them for their own personal medications. The findings suggest there is a disconnect between the participants' knowledge of the appropriate methods of safe drug storage and disposal in a professional setting and their own practices. Further research is needed to explore and address the reasons for this disconnect. Additionally, findings from this research will assist in the development of and/or the improvement of interdisciplinary educational materials among pharmacy and nursing students.

We tested the hypothesis that the fate of dietary phosphorus will not differ among a dicalcium phosphate-free practical diet treated with 6-phytase (3000 FTU/kg; Quantum Blue™; P-F + Phy), and positive (C) and negative (P-F) control practical diets when fed to hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis aureus x O. niloticus; 29.8 g initial weight) stocked at 29 fish/m3 and grown for 5 months to market size (454 g/fish) in outdoor biofloc production system tanks (16.6 m3). The ideal protein diets were formulated to contain 27.7% digestible protein and 4% lipid from practical ingredients and were extruded commercially. Final weights (467–494 g), weight gains (1636-1723%), and average daily intake (2.10–2.18%) did not differ for fish fed the P-F + Phy or C diets; however, these metrics were significantly lower in the P-F diet treatment. There were fewer market size fish (46.8–54.7%), feed conversion ratios were poorer (1.59–1.61), and intraperitoneal fat contents (6.96–7.40%) were higher for fish fed the phosphorus-free diets compared to the C diet (65.3%, 1.46, 5.90%). Geosmin, as compared to 2-methylisoborneol, was considered the more relevant off-flavor compound and fillet concentrations were higher than those for 2-methylisoborneol, but concentrations present of each compound were unlikely to cause “earthy” or “musty” off-flavors. Accumulation rates of soluble reactive phosphorus, organic phosphorus, and total phosphorus in tanks fed the phosphorus-free were diets nearly half those observed for the C diet while phosphorus loading from feed was 37.7% lower.

The pond-raised channel catfish (Ictaluruspunctatus) industry in the United States of America can incur losses of over a $100 million annually due to bacterial diseases including columnaris disease caused by Flavobacterium columnare. One management approach available to catfish producers is the use of medicated- feed containing antibiotics. However, the negative attributes of antibiotic use in agriculture include public concerns and the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, the discovery of environmentally-safe natural compounds for use as therapeutic agents would greatly benefit the catfish industry. In this study, a rapid bioassay was used to evaluate crude plant extracts as the first step in the discovery of natural therapeutants. Plant extracts from Terminalia brownii were found to be inhibitory towards F. columnare. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 5% water-methanol extract ofT. brownii (stem bark) was 10 μg/mL and the 24 h 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) was 40 pg/mL. Subsequent bioassay-guided fractionation of the T. brownR ethanol extract using reverse phase C-4 chromatography revealed the highest level of activity in the aqueous:methanol (50:50) fraction. HPLC analysis and subsequent purification of this fraction provided two compounds identified as ellagic acid (1) and 4-O-(3",4"-di-O-galloyl-a-L-rhamnopyrahosyl)ellagic acid (2). Compound 2 was the most active isolated compound, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10±0 μg/mL and 24 h IC(50) of 31±1 μg/mL. Although 1 was more active according to a MIC of 6±5 μg/mL, its 24 h IC(50) was100 μg/mL, and, therefore, it was less active overall of the two most active isolated compounds.

There has been a growing interest and use of variations of partitioned aquaculture systems (PAS) in recent years by the southeastern U.S. catfish farming industry. Split-pond systems, one type of PAS, are designed to better manage fish waste byproducts (e.g., ammonia) and dissolved oxygen levels than the conventional earthen ponds that have been used by farmers for many decades. Recent studies have focused on design, water flow rates, and other management areas of catfish split-ponds, but so far there has not been a focused examination of phytoplankton community composition and biomass in these split-ponds. In the current study, pond water samples were collected from split-ponds at a research facility in western Mississippi and at a commercial fish farm in western Alabama approximately every 3 weeks during the fish grow-out period (May to November). Water samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a concentration (phytoplankton biomass) of several major phytoplankton divisions and for types of phytopla...

Making GPS more accurate and/or reliable by combining it with other sensors and applying sophisticated data processing techniques has been attempted many times. Our approach to enhancing the performance of GPS is much simpler than most. We combine multiple (up to eight) consumer-grade GPS receivers into a system that averages their data in real time, requiring no other sensors, augmentation technologies, or powerful processors. The results show significant improvement in both accuracy and reliability of the data over that of a single receiver, and the distribution of error more closely resembles the normal distribution (as compared to a single receiver). Our multi-GPS system shows potential to be an inexpensive way to achieve better GPS performance with only “off-the-shelf” equipment.

The air-dried aerial parts of Croton campestris, C. chaetocalyx, C. eriocladus, and C. glandulosus, with occurrence in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, yielded essential oils, and their volatile constituents were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Sesquiterpenes, both hydrocarbons and oxygenated, were the most highly represented classes in the oils: the former ranging from 55.3% to 85.1%, and the latter varying from 7.2% to 33.2%. The oils were separated into two groups using hierarchical cluster analysis whose main constituents were β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, γ-elemene, β-elemene, α-humulene and δ-elemene (Group A, C. campestris and C. eriocladus); and spathulenol, bicyclogermacrene, δ-elemene, germacrene D, β-caryophyllene and δ-cadinene (Group B, C. chaetocalyx and C. glandulosus). Percentage of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons was higher in Group A (83-85%) than in Group B (55-63%). However, regarding the oxygenated sesquiterpenes, it was reversed, being bigger in Group B (28-33%) than in Group A (7-8%). Percentage of similarity in Group A was 92% and in Group B it was 86%. These chemotaxonomic results showed a significant contribution for the better botanical knowledge of these four Croton species occurring in North Brazil.

Since excreted feed nitrogen is bio-transformed efficiently in a fully functional mixotrophic biofloc technology production system, re-using this biofloc water over multiple production cycles should be beneficial. The present study, conducted in an outdoor biofloc technology production system, evaluated impacts on fish production characteristics and mineral status, common microbial off-flavors, and water quality dynamics for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) reared in one-year-old waters with low or high total suspended solids used previously for two consecutive catfish biofloc studies or in unused (new) water. Total suspended solids were maintained at 300 to 400 mg/L in the unused and low total suspended solids used water treatments and allowed to accumulate in the high total suspended solids used water treatment. Tanks (18.6 m2, 15.7 m3) were stocked with fingerlings (47.5 ± 0.8 g/fish) at 13.5 fish/m2 (16 fish/m3) and grown for 181 days. Channel catfish production characteristics did not differ significantly among treatments. Overall, gross fish yield averaged 10.2 kg/m3 and fish averaged 642 g/fish. Nitrate accumulation rate was affected by total suspended solids concentration with a significant reduction observed at the highest discharge of solids from the system, suggesting wash-out of nitrifiers. Treatment effects on water quality dynamics, macro- and trace-mineral status of water, feed, and fish, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin off-flavors and associated phytoplankton populations also are discussed. Results of this study suggest that one-year-old biofloc water can be used without adverse impact for a second year of channel catfish production in the biofloc system.

Onsite research indicates that activated sludge membrane biological reactors (MBRs) are an effective waste treatment technology for aquaculture effluents. MBRs produce a filtered permeate that is nearly free of dissolved nutrients, organics, and solids; therefore, this technology could be well-suited for integration within the process control loop of recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS). A four-month study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating single-vessel MBRs within freshwater RAS while culturing rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Triplicate RAS with and without MBRs (controls) were evaluated; mRAS and cRAS, respectively. System backwash water of mRAS was processed and retained within MBRs which allowed increased water recycling, while cRAS utilized standard dilution rates to limit nitrate accumulation. On average, mRAS required six and a half times less makeup water. Mean daily water replacement of the RAS volume for mRAS and cRAS was 1.2 ± 0.4 and 7.8 ± 0.5%, respectively (P 0.05). In addition, concentrations of common off-flavor compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) in water and fish flesh were not affected by MBR presence. Improvements for future MBR integration with RAS were realized including optimization of MBR permeate rates, increased RAS water exchange through the MBRs, and infrequent supplementation of a carbon source to enhance denitrification efficiency and alkalinity recovery. Overall, incorporating MBRs within RAS resulted in substantial water savings and was biologically feasible for rainbow trout production.

Four diterpenes with biological activity were isolated from Salvia deserta roots. Taxodione was considered leishmanicidal with an IC50 value of 1.46 µM (0.46 mg/L) against Leishmania donovani and also exhibited antifungal and antimicrobial activities. Ferruginol displayed the greatest activity [24-h IC50 of 4.5 µM (1.29 mg/L)] against the fish pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus iniae. The crude extract fraction that contained the isolated compounds 7-O-acetylhorminone and horminone showed stronger in vitro antibacterial activity (1.3 mg/L for Staphylococcus aureus and 1.1 mg/L for methicillin-resistant S. aureus) than the compounds tested alone. 7-O-Acetylhorminone and horminone exhibited a synergistic effect against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (FIC of 0.2), and horminone had better activity against S. aureus with respect to other compounds isolated from S. deserta roots. In larvicidal bioassays, these extracts and isolated pure compounds did not show any activity at the highest dose of 125 mg/L against 1-d-old Aedes aegypti larvae.

The Gram-negative bacterium Flavobacterium columnare is the cause of columnaris disease, which can occur in channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ). In a previous study, the betaine-type alkaloid ungeremine, 1, obtained from Pancratium maritimum L. was found to have strong antibacterial activity against F. columnare. In this study, analogues of 1 were evaluated using a rapid bioassay for activity against F. columnare to determine if the analogues might provide greater antibacterial activity and to determine structure-activity relationships of the test compounds. Several ungeremine analogues were prepared by hydrochlorination of the alkaloid and by selenium dioxide oxidation of both lycorine, 7, and pseudolycorine, 8, which yielded the isomer of ungeremine, 3, and zefbetaine, 4, respectively. The treatment of lycorine with phosphorus oxychloride allowed the synthesis of an anhydrolycorine lactam, 5, showing, with respect to 1, the deoxygenation and oxygenation of C-2 and C-7 of the C and B rings, respectively. The results of the structure-activity relationship studies showed that the aromatization of the C ring and the oxidation to an azomethine group of C-7 of the B ring are structural features important for antibacterial activity. In addition, the position of the oxygenation of the C ring as well as the presence of the 1,3-dioxole ring joined to the A ring of the pyrrolo[de]phenanthridine skeleton also plays a significant role in imparting antibacterial activity. On the basis of 24-h 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) results, ungeremine hydrochloride, 2, was similar in toxicity to 1, whereas 5 had the lowest activity. Analogue 2 is soluble in water, which may provide the benefit for use as an effective feed additive or therapeutant compared to ungeremine.

Isolates of Nocardia cummidelens, Nocard ia fluminea, Streptomyces albidoflavus, and Streptomyces luridiscabiei attributed as the cause of “earthy-musty” off-flavor in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) raised in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) were evaluated for the effect of temperature (10–30 °C) on biomass, geosmin, and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) production and cellular activity. Cultures of these isolates were monitored over 7 days by measuring culture dry weight, geosmin, and MIB production using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS), and ATP production via a luminometer. Compared to the other isolates, S. luridiscabiei had significantly (P

In our on-going pursuit to discover natural products and natural product-based compounds to control the bacterial species Flavobacterium columnare, which causes columnaris disease in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), we synthesized flavone and chalcone analogs, and evaluated these compounds, along with flavonoids from natural sources, for their antibacterial activities against two isolates of F. columnare (ALM-00-173 and BioMed) using a rapid bioassay. The flavonoids chrysin (1a), 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone (11), isorhamnetin (26), luteolin (27), and biochanin A (29), and chalcone derivative 8b showed strong antibacterial activities against F. columnare ALM-00-173 based on minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) results. Flavonoids 1a, 8, 11, 13 (5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone), 26, and 29 exhibited strong antibacterial activities against F. columnare BioMed based upon MIC results. The 24-h 50% inhibition concentration (IC50 ) results revealed that 27 and 29 were the most active compounds against F. columnare ALM-00-173 (IC50 of 7.5 and 8.5 mg/l, resp.), while 26 and 29 were the most toxic compound against F. columnare BioMed (IC50 of 9.2 and 3.5 mg/l, resp.). These IC50 results were lower than those obtained for wogonin against F. columnare ALM-00-173 and F. columnare BioMed (28.4 and 5.4 mg/l, resp.). However, based on MIC results, none of the compounds evaluated in this study were as active as wogonin (MIC 0.3 mg/l for each F. columnare isolate). Further modification of the wogonin structure to enhance antibacterial is of interest.

Phytotoxic microbial metabolites produced by certain phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, and a group of phytotoxic plant metabolites including Amaryllidacea alkaloids and some derivatives of these compounds were evaluated for algicide, bactericide, insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide activities in order to discover natural compounds for potential use in the management and control of several important agricultural and household structural pests. Among the various compounds evaluated: i) ophiobolin A was found to be the most promising for potential use as a selective algicide; ii) ungeremine was discovered to be bactericidal against certain species of fish pathogenic bacteria; iii) cycasin caused significant mortality in termites; iv) cavoxin, ophiobolin A, and sphaeropsidin A were most active towards species of plant pathogenic fungi; and v) lycorine and some of its analogues (1-O-acetyllycorine and lycorine chlorohydrate) were highly phytotoxic in the herbicide bioassay. Our results further demonstrated that plants and microbes can provide a diverse and natural source of compounds with potential use as pesticides.

Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly popular in the last several years. This paper explores numerous methods to detect and track small UAVs using computer vision.

The proliferation of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) has led to a security gap in the defense of strategic installations and at public events. One of the most proven and low-regret methods employed by Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUASs) is entanglement of the hostile UAS in a net carried by a hunter UAS. Typically these hunter UASs are controlled by a human pilot. We employ a ground based RADAR system for tracking the target UAS and command the hunter UAS to follow the target UAS, using the Robot Operating System (ROS), the MAVLink protocol, and the PX4 autopilot. This system is fully autonomous, which reduces cost and response time when compared to human-in-the-loop systems. In addition, a novel cylindrical net design is presented. We demonstrate the system's effectiveness through field testing.

a b s t r a c t Fish cultured within water recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can acquire "earthy" or "musty" off- flavors due to bioaccumulation of the compounds geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), respectively, which are produced by certain bacterial species present in RAS biosolids and microbial biofilms. Fish cultured in RAS are generally transferred to separate depuration systems that are flushed with water in a single pass or operated with limited water recirculation (with no biofilter), in order to purge these unpalatable flavors. Technologies and standard operating practices that optimize purging kinetics for Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and other species cultured in RAS are needed to improve the consistency and efficacy of depuration. A 2 × 2 factorial trial was conducted to evaluate techniques to mitigate off-flavor from Atlantic salmon cultured to 3-5 kg in a semi-commercial scale freshwater RAS. Twelve replicated depuration systems (0.5 m3) were used to evaluate four combinations (n = 3) of the following standard operating procedure and system design parameters: (1) disinfection of depuration systems as a 1 h static treatment using 250 mg/L hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) prior to stocking fish, (2) no disinfection prior to stocking fish, (3) presence of water aeration media within gas transfer columns of depuration systems, and (4) absence of water aeration media within gas transfer columns of depuration systems. Food-size Atlantic salmon were stocked within the depuration systems and kept off feed for 10 days. Six salmon were harvested from the original RAS on Day 0 and fileted for baseline assessment of off-flavor concentrations. Thereafter, filet samples (n = 3-4) were taken on Days 3, 6, and 10 to evaluate off-flavor kinetics. Hydrogen peroxide disinfection of depuration systems resulted in significantly reduced off-flavor in salmon filets during the depuration period. Results also indicated that the presence of high-surface-area water aeration media shielded biofilms from complete disinfection, resulting in less and slower off-flavor removal from Atlantic salmon filets; while depuration systems void of media resulted in greater and more rapid off- flavor reduction. Thus, water aeration media should not be used in depuration systems because of the challenges posed for effective cleaning, disinfection, and inactivation of off-flavor producing bacteria that may be present, and unit processes and locations that are difficult-to-clean should be excluded. In addition, a wide range of off-flavor concentrations were measured within individual salmon, indicating that one salmon is not a representative sample size to determine market suitability.

To summarize the development process of a national database that was designed to facilitate communication and collaboration, improve care, and create a framework for aggregate data sharing in cochlear implant (CI) research.A group of nationally represented, multidisciplinary CI providers cooperated to define a standard set of data elements to incorporate into a database built by them in association with a group of computer scientists and software designers. CI centers across the USA, then, joined the non-profit Auditory Implant Initiative to use the database for their own clinical purposes and to help contribute to the national de-identified dataset for research and analytics.Approximately 12 months after the full release of the database, clinical information on 373 patients has been entered from 17 different CI centers representing 61 hearing professionals. A blend of six academic, seven private, and four non-profit CI centers participated in this phase of the data sharing network.The adoption of a single, standardized database by 17 centers throughout the USA has begun a framework for data sharing in CI research. Future steps include (1) expanding adoption, (2) scaling the database to include more patients, (3) streamlining the legal hurdles required for adoption, and (4) integrating the database with other software platforms (e.g. electronic health records, processors).A standardized clinical outcomes database that is utilized by a growing network of CI centers can help strengthen research through aggregate data sharing.

From the ethyl acetate extract of Murraya koenegii (Rutaceae) leaves, isomahanine (1) and mahanine (2) were isolated that showed antibacterial activity towards Flavobacterium columnare and Streptococcus iniae which caused columnaris disease and streptococcosis respectively. Isomahanine was found to have the strongest activity against F. columnare (isolate ALM-00-173) and S. iniae (isolate LA94-426) based on 24-h 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC). Although compound (7), a nicotinamide isolated from Amyris texana had the lowest MIC (2.8 ± 0 mg/L) of any of the test compounds against F. columnare, the 24-h IC50 of 14.8 ± 0.6 mg/L was higher than that of isomahanine and subsequently the 24-h IC50 RDC values for (7) were almost a magnitude of order higher than those obtained for isomahanine. Isomahanine also had the strongest activity against S. iniae, with a 24-h IC50 of 1.3 ± 0.1 mg/L and MIC of 3.5 ± 0 mg/L, respectively.

The effect of initial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque, 1818) fingerling biomass (1.4, 1.8, or 2.3 kg m−3) on phytoplankton communities, common off-flavours and stocker catfish production parameters was evaluated in biofloc technology production tanks. Stocker catfish size (145.5–172.6 g fish−1) at harvest did not differ among treatments, but net yield increased linearly as initial biomass increased (R2 = 0.633). Mean total feed consumption increased linearly with initial catfish biomass (R2 = 0.656) and ranged from 10.7 to 15.8 kg m−3. Total suspended solids (TSS) in all treatments increased linearly with total feed addition, and high TSS appeared to impact negatively daily feed consumption. Initial phytoplankton populations were dominated by small colonial green algae and diatoms, and later transitioned to populations dominated by a small, filamentous cyanobacteria and diatoms. Low, variable concentrations of 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin were present in biofloc tank water during most of the study and two tanks yielded catfish with 2-methylisoborneol or geosmin concentrations that might be classified as off-flavour. One isolate of actinomycete was isolated sporadically from some biofloc tanks, but its abundance was not correlated with 2-methylisoborneol concentration in tank waters. The microbial sources of 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin in biofloc tanks remain unidentified.

Over the past decade in the United States, there has been increased interest in the establishment and use of land-based, closed-containment systems [e.g., recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)] for salmonid culture. These culture systems have unique challenges compared to net pen culture of salmonids, including maintenance of pumps and filters as well as the potential growth of certain bacteria within the systems that can render fish off-flavored. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of implementing a depuration process to purge the “earthy” and “musty” off-flavor compounds geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) from Atlantic salmon fillets on fillet quality characteristics (e.g., lipid content, color). During two depuration trials, salmon were depurated without feed in a flow-through tank, a recently “cleaned” RAS system or the originally stocked grow-out tank for up to 20 days. Results from both trials determined that the salmon required depuration in odor-free water for 10–15 days in either a flow-through system or a recently cleaned RAS to obtain the lowest residual levels of geosmin and MIB in the fish flesh. In trial 1, after 20 days, fish had lost significantly more weight (5.8%) compared to day 5 (3.8%). In the second trial, lipid content of the fillet also significantly dropped from 8.2% to 5.1% and moisture content increased from 69.3% to 71.1%. Fillet color quality was not compromised during the 20-day depuration periods. In trial 1, MIB was the main off-flavor compound present in salmon fillets while geosmin was at higher levels than MIB in fish flesh in trial 2. During the second depuration study, three geosmin-producing species of actinomycetes were isolated from the recirculating system and were attributed as the likely sources of geosmin in the salmon fillets. Because fillet color quality was not compromised during the depuration periods used in these studies, the main fillet quality concerns for producers of RAS-cultured salmon are flavor, texture and lipid levels during the pre-harvest purging process.