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Five formulated diets containing 350 g kg-1 crude protein were prepared replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the fish meal content which silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori) and clam meat as a dietary protein source, and were fed to Indian major carp (Labeo rohita) fingerlings of 2.0–2.2 g size under laboratory conditions. A growth study over a period of 90 days showed that a diet containing 50% of its protein as fishmeal had significantly higher (P≤0.05) growth with values of 1.64, 1.92, 1.48 for specific growth rate, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, respectively. Significantly lower growth (P≤0.05) was observed with diets having all or none of its protein as fish meal. This experiment with Labeo rohita fingerlings revealed a significantly better utilisation of the diet when half the protein in a fishmeal diet was replaced by protein in the form of silkworm pupae and clam meat.

The antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of the extracts of P. barbatum (L.) Hara var. barbata, Polygonaceae, at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, were evaluated in mice/rat models using, respectively, the acetic-acid-induced writhing method, the carrageenan-induced edema test and the Lipschitz method. In the acetic-acid-induced writhing test in mice, all extracts displayed a dose dependent analgesic effect. The most potent analgesic activity was observed with the petroleum ether extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight with an inhibition of writhing response 46.8% compared to 62.2% for the positive control aminopyrine. Petroleum ether extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight also displayed the highest levels of anti-inflammatory activity after 2 h with the 39.3% inhibition of paw edema, and this effect was better than the effect observed by the conventional anti-inflammatory agent phenylbutazone (maximum inhibition of 38.3% after 4 h). All extracts increased urine volume in a dose-dependent manner, and the ethyl acetate extract showed a significant level of diuresis comparable to that of the standard diuretic agent furosemide. As propriedades antinociceptiva, antiinflamatória e diurética dos extratos de P. barbatum (L.) Hara var. barbata, Polygonaceae, nas doses de 200 e 400 mg/kg de peso corpóreo foram avaliadas em modelos utilizando camundongos/ratos, respectivamente, o método de contorções induzidas por ácido acético, o teste de edema induzido por carragenina e o método de Lipschitz. No método de contorções induzidas por ácido acetic, todos os extratos apresentaram efeito nociceptivo dose dependente. O efeito nociceptivo mais potente foi observado com o extrato de éter de petróleo na dose de 400 mg/kg com uma inibição das contorções de 46,8% comparado com o controle positivo de aminopirina de 62,2%. O extrato de éter de petróleo na dose de 400 mg/kg também mostrou maior atividade antiinflammatoria após 2 h com 39,3% de inibição do edema de pata, e este efeito foi maior que o observado para o agente antiinflamatório convencional fenilbutazona (inibição máxima de 38,4% após 4 h). Todos os extratos aumentaram o volume de urina de maneira dose dependente e o extrato acetato de etila mostrou um nível de significância de diurese comparável ao agente diurético padrão, furosemida.

Structural and operational variations of marine set-bag-net (MSBN) in the Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh were studied comprehensively during July 2003-June 2004. Total number of crafts, gears and owners of MSBN fishery in different areas of the country were also estimated. The estimated total number of MSBN was 6,055 and total number of boats used to operate these nets was 909. The total number of people dependent for their livelihood on the MSBN fishery was about 2,52,000 individuals. Detail structures (dimensions, mesh size and twine) and functions of different parts and sub-parts of the gear were analyzed. Details about the operation of MSBN such as, area of operation, setting duration, number of set per day, how many days operate in a month, off season, peak season, etc. were also recorded from each of the operating areas. Observations on the structural design of the gear revealed the potential of improving the efficiency and selectivity of the gear by changing the mesh sizes and incorporating a simple device to prevent escaping of larger individuals, while escaping of small individuals.

Hybridization between silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) has been reported to occur fairly frequently in commercial aquaculture hatcheries in Bangladesh. The consequences of hybridization for broodstock purity had not previously been investigated. Allelic variation at three microsatellite DNA loci isolated from silver carp routinely distinguished between silver carp and bighead carp. These markers were used in the analysis of samples collected from hatcheries in different regions of Bangladesh. Of 422 hatchery broodstock that were morphologically identified as silver carp, 8.3% had bighead allele(s) at one or more of the three microsatellite loci, while 23.3% of the 236 fish morphologically identified as bighead carp had silver carp allele(s) at one or more loci. The results suggested that while some of these fish might be F1 hybrids, others had more complex genotypes, suggesting further generations of hybridization or introgression between the species in hatcheries, with potentially damaging consequences for the integrity of these stocks and their performance in aquaculture.

Impact of silver barb (Barbades gonionotus) on the growth and survival of prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were tested in a polyculture system. There were two treatments and three replication of each. Silver carp (Hypopthalmichthys molitrix), catla (Catla catla) and prawn (M. rosenbergii) were stocked at a stocking density of 10, 3 and 50/decimal, respectively in both treatments. Rohu (Labeo rohita) was stocked at a stocking density of 8/decimal in treatments T1 and silver barb was stocked at a rate of 20/decimal in treatment T2. The average growth and survival rate of silver carp and catla were higher with rohu (T1) than with silver barb (T2). However, differences were not statistically significant .The specific growth rate (SGR) of prawn was higher in T1(1.98%) than in T2(1.86%). The significantly higher (P

This article 'Short-to medium-duration rice in rotation with chickpea in Bangladesh' appeared in the International Rice Research Notes series, created by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to expedite communication among scientists concerned with the development of improved technology for rice and rice-based systems. The series is a mechanism to help scientists keep each other informed of current rice research findings. The concise scientific notes are meant to encourage rice scientists to communicate with one another to obtain details on the research reported.