Search

pH is the major factor that makes producers in aquaponics frustrated, since the main three organisms (aquatic animal, plant, and microbes) in the system with different preferences. Yet, amending the growing environment with additional C is a potential method to improve the growth of shrimp and plants as well as the establishment of microbe. A detailed study of the effects of pH and additional C on aquaponics under saline conditions has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of pH and additional C on the growth performance of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and five edible plants in marine aquaponic systems using the nutrient film technique (NFT) was evaluated. The results indicated that at both pH 6.5 treatments, plants grew better; nevertheless, the growth performance of plants in pH 7.5 with additional C was improved and showed a similar yield to lower pH treatments. On the other hand, shrimp growth was little affected by pH and additional C. A higher impact of imbalanced ionic composition on shrimp performance may have contributed to this trend. Hence, we suggest that only if the ionic composition is managed can make RO water a suitable source of water for shrimp-based aquaponic. In spite of this, more research is required.

A12-week experiment was conducted to evaluate the influences of thiamine ongrowth performance, and intestinal mitochondrial biogenesis and function of Megalobramaamblycephala fed a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet. Fish (24·73 (sem 0·45) g) were randomly assigned to one of four diets: two carbohydrate (CHO) levels (30 and 45 %) and two thiamine levels (0 and 1·5 mg/kg). HC diets significantly decreased DGC, GRMBW, FIMBW, intestinal activities of amylase, lipase, Na+, K+-ATPase, CK, complexes I, III and IV, intestinal ML, number of mitochondrial per field, ΔΨm, the P-AMPK: T-AMPK ratio, PGC-1β protein expression as well as the transcriptions of AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PGC-1β, mitochondrial transcription factor A, Opa-1, ND-1 and COX-1 and 2, while the opposite was true for ATP, AMP and reactive oxygen species, and the transcriptions of dynamin-related protein-1, fission-1 and mitochondrial fission factor. Dietarythiamine concentrations significantly increased DGC, GRMBW, intestinal activities of amylase, Na+, K+-ATPase, CK, complexes I and IV, intestinal ML, number of mitochondrial per field, ΔΨm, the P-AMPK:T-AMPK ratio, PGC-1β protein expression as well as the transcriptions of AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PGC-1β, Opa-1, ND-1, COX-1 and 2, SGLT-1 and GLUT-2. Furthermore, a significant interaction between dietary CHO and thiamine was observed in DGC, GRMBW, intestinal activities of amylase, CK, complexes I and IV, ΔΨm, the AMP:ATP ratio, the P-AMPK:T-AMPK ratio, PGC-1β protein expression as well as the transcriptions of AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PGC-1β, Opa-1, COX-1 and 2, SGLT-1 and GLUT-2. Overall, thiamine supplementation improved growth performance, and intestinal mitochondrial biogenesis and function of M. amblycephala fed HC diets.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating many biological processes of eukaryotes. Batrachuperus karlschmidti, as an endangered amphibian species of salamander endemic to China, has attracted much attention because of its high values for paleontology evolutionary history research and decreasing population size. Most miRNAs have been identified in animals, no study is available concerning the miRNAs in B. karlschmidti. Herein, deep sequencing technology was used to identify and analyze miRNAs in B. karlschmidti. Totally, 13 377 954 reads were yielded. Of them, 2 724 630 unique reads representing 866 known and three novel miRNAs were identified. All these identified miRNAs were also verified using stem-loop qRT-PCR test method. Additionally, 5452 candidate target genes were predicted. GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed that the majority of targets were involved in a broad range of biological processes and metabolic pathways. Results also revealed that certain miRNA target genes are transcription factors, which might be associated with environmental adaptation of B. karlschmidti. Overall, our results provided the first large-scale identification and characterization of miRNAs in B. karlschmidti. Discovery of miRNAs in B. karlschmidti contributes to a better understanding of the complex roles of miRNA-mediated regulatory networks in gene expression in regulating diverse biological processes and greatly facilitates further functional studies on miRNAs in this species.

To collect outcomes data on patients treated with a bioinductive collagen implant designed to induce rotator cuff healing in partial- and full-thickness cuff tears and to assess the safety and efficacy of the device.Fifteen surgeons in 15 centers in the United States enrolled patients between April 2016 and August 2017 and collected standardized outcomes data. Patients 21 years of age and older, able to read and speak English, and with partial- or full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff documented by magnetic resonance imaging were included in the study. Patients were assessed preoperatively with visual analogue scale (VAS), single-assessment numeric evaluation (SANE), Veterans RAND 12-Item (VR-12), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) outcomes measures. Postoperative assessment was made at 2, 6, and 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Patients underwent a standardized operative procedure with the implant. Patient demographics, comorbidities, tear types, and concomitant operative procedures were recorded.Patients in both groups experienced statistically significant improvement in VAS, SANE, VR-12 PCS, ASES, and WORC scores (mean values 1.1, P.001; 86.0, P.001; 49.7, P.001; 85.6, P.001; and 84.4, P.001 for partial tears and 1.2, P.001; 80.7, P.001; 45.7, P.001; 83.8, P.0001; and 80.1, P.001 for full-thickness tears, respectively). For the partial tear group, average times for return to driving, work, and nonoverhead athletic activity were 14.6, 37.3, and 65.6 days, and for the full-thickness group, 24.5, 50.7, and 119.2 days, respectively. In the partial-thickness group, 84% and 83% of patients reported improvement in their VAS pain and ASES scores, respectively, that met or exceeded each measure's minimal clinically important difference. In the full-thickness group, 72% and 77% of the patients met or exceeded the minimal clinically important differences for VAS pain and ASES, respectively.Outcomes after repair of partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears using a bioinductive implant show safety and efficacy at 1-year follow-up.Retrospective case series, level IV evidence.

A12-week experiment was conducted to evaluate the influences of thiamine ongrowth performance, and intestinal mitochondrial biogenesis and function of Megalobramaamblycephala fed a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet. Fish (24·73 (sem 0·45) g) were randomly assigned to one of four diets: two carbohydrate (CHO) levels (30 and 45 %) and two thiamine levels (0 and 1·5 mg/kg). HC diets significantly decreased DGC, GRMBW, FIMBW, intestinal activities of amylase, lipase, Na+, K+-ATPase, CK, complexes I, III and IV, intestinal ML, number of mitochondrial per field, ΔΨm, the P-AMPK: T-AMPK ratio, PGC-1β protein expression as well as the transcriptions of AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PGC-1β, mitochondrial transcription factor A, Opa-1, ND-1 and COX-1 and 2, while the opposite was true for ATP, AMP and reactive oxygen species, and the transcriptions of dynamin-related protein-1, fission-1 and mitochondrial fission factor. Dietarythiamine concentrations significantly increased DGC, GRMBW, intestinal activities of amylase, Na+, K+-ATPase, CK, complexes I and IV, intestinal ML, number of mitochondrial per field, ΔΨm, the P-AMPK:T-AMPK ratio, PGC-1β protein expression as well as the transcriptions of AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PGC-1β, Opa-1, ND-1, COX-1 and 2, SGLT-1 and GLUT-2. Furthermore, a significant interaction between dietary CHO and thiamine was observed in DGC, GRMBW, intestinal activities of amylase, CK, complexes I and IV, ΔΨm, the AMP:ATP ratio, the P-AMPK:T-AMPK ratio, PGC-1β protein expression as well as the transcriptions of AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PGC-1β, Opa-1, COX-1 and 2, SGLT-1 and GLUT-2. Overall, thiamine supplementation improved growth performance, and intestinal mitochondrial biogenesis and function of M. amblycephala fed HC diets.

This article reports on a new class of stimuli-responsive surfactant generated from commercially available amphiphiles such as dodecyltrimethylammmonium bromide (DTAB) by substitution of the halide counterion with counterions such as 2-cyanopyrrolide, 1,2,3-triazolide, and L-proline that complex reversibly with CO2. Through a combination of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), electrical conductivity measurements, thermal gravimetric analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations, we show how small changes in charge reorganization and counterion shape and size induced by complexation with CO2 allow for fine-tunability of surfactant properties. We then use these findings to demonstrate a range of potential practical uses, from manipulating microemulsion droplet morphology to controlling micellar and vesicular aggregation. In particular, we focus on the binding of these surfactants to DNA and the reversible compaction of surfactant–DNA complexes upon alternate bubbling of the solution with CO2 and N2.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a family of ~22-nucleotide non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules, are considered as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that regulate various biological processes in living organism. Many miRNAs have been identified in animals; however, few have been reported in Hynobiidae species. The present study is aimed to identify a full repertoire of miRNAs in Batrachuperus yenyuanensis (Yenyuan stream salamander), which would significantly increase our knowledge of miRNAs in amphibians. A small RNA library was constructed from B. yenyuanensis and sequenced using deep sequencing. As a result, 1,717,751 clean reads were obtained, representing 356 known and 80 novel miRNAs. Additionally, expression levels of eight randomly selected miRNAs in B. yenyuanensis were confirmed using the stem-loop quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. In addition, 13,972 targets were predicted for these identified miRNAs, although the physiological functions of many of these targets remain unknown. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis suggested that the predicted targets are involved in a variety of physiological regulatory functions in B. yenyuanensis. These results provide useful information for further research on the miRNAs involved in the growth and development of B. yenyuanensis, as well as adaptation of this species to its high-altitude habitats.

Emodin is an anthraquinone exhibiting several positive benefits of anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, and resistance to stress. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of emodin on the hepatic cell line of grass carp exposed to hyperthermic stress. Cultured cells were treated with various emodin concentrations (0, 0.04, 0.2, and 1.0 µg/mL) at 27 C for 24 h. Then all cultured cells were exposed to thermal stress by increasing the culture temperature (32 ± 0.5 C) for 0.5 h. Increased temperatures significantly reduced cell viability and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in three of the four experimental groups (0, 0.2, and 1 µg/mL emodin) compared with the control. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly higher in cells exposed to elevated temperatures and treated with 0.2 or 1 µg/mL emodin and mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower in cells treated with 0, 0.2, or 1 µg/mL emodin. Expressions of heat shock proteins (HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90) were significantly higher in all but one of the experimental groups. Our results suggest that 0.04 µg/mL emodin can increase cell viability and HSP90 mRNA level, reduce LDH release and concentration of ROS, and contribute to enhance the resistance to high temperature stress in the hepatic cells of grass carp.

The present experiment was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin A (VA) requirement of juvenile Wuchang bream by formulating six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified experimental diets containing 0, 1934, 3885, 7924, 15,935 and 47,917 IU VA (as retinol acetate) kg− 1 diet, respectively. Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups of 25 juveniles each with initial average weights of 2.40 ± 0.01 g in the circular tank for 90 days. Weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, plasma complement 3, plasma complement 4, white blood cell, red blood cell and hemoglobin content significantly increased with increasing dietary VA level, reached a peak with 1934 or 3885 IU kg− 1 VA, and then decreased. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in the group fed 3885 IU kg− 1 dietary VA than those fed the 0, 15,939 and 47,917 IU kg− 1 VA diets. Hepatosomatic index and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity were higher in fish fed the 0 IU VA kg− 1 diet than those fed with dietary VA. Similar trend was obtained for aspartate aminotransferase activity and the highest activity was found in the group of 47,917 IU kg− 1 VA. The cumulative mortality after Aeromonas hydrophila challenge of the group fed the 3885, 7924 and 15,935 IU kg− 1 VA diets was significantly lower than those fed 0 IU kg− 1 dietary VA. The overall results of the present study indicate that the dietary VA requirement of juvenile Wuchang bream on the bases of the broken-line regression analysis of FCR was estimated to be 3914 IU kg− 1 of diet. Statement of relevance The requirements and immune responses of vitamin A in aquatic animals have been studied in many fish. Dietary deficiency symptoms of vitamin A include skeletal deformity, eye lesions, hemorrhages of fins and eyes, and reduced immunity and growth. Therefore, it is important to know the vitamin A requirement of targeted species and incorporate into diets to prevent deficiency symptoms. Wuchang bream (M. amblycephala) is a principal species in Chinese freshwater polyculture systems with production in China of approximately 0.72 million tons in 2012. However, the growth and immune responses associated with vitamin A in Wuchang bream have not been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the dietary vitamin A requirement of Wuchang bream using growth and immunity parameters. The present experiment was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin A (VA) requirement of juvenile Wuchang bream by formulating six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified experimental diets containing 0, 1934, 3885, 7924, 15,935 and 47,917 IU VA (as retinol acetate) kg− 1 diet, respectively. Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups of 25 juveniles each with initial average weights of 2.40 ± 0.01 g in the circular tank for 90 days. Weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, plasma complement 3, plasma complement 4, white blood cell, red blood cell and hemoglobin content significantly increased with increasing dietary VA level, reached a peak with 1934 or 3885 IU kg− 1 VA, and then decreased. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in the group fed 3885 IU kg− 1 dietary VA than those fed the 0, 15,939 and 47,917 IU kg− 1 VA diets. Hepatosomatic index and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity were higher in fish fed the 0 IU VA kg− 1 diet than those fed with dietary VA. Similar trend was obtained for aspartate aminotransferase activity and the highest activity was found in the group of 47,917 IU kg− 1 VA. The cumulative mortality after A. hydrophila challenge of the group fed 3885, 7924 and 15,935 IU kg− 1 VA diets was significantly lower than those fed 0 IU kg− 1 dietary VA. In a word, an excess or deficiency of VA reduced WBC, RBC, HBG, C3 and C4 contents, increased blood AST and ALT activities and enhanced morality after A. hydrophila infection. Taken together, our results suggest that the optimum requirement of dietary VA for juvenile Wuchang bream is 3914 IU kg− 1 of diet based on the broken-line regression analysis of FCR versus different dietary VA levels, respectively.

This study aimed to evaluate the influences of dietary raw and gelatinized wheat starch and their ratios on the glycolipid metabolism, glucose tolerance and mitochondrial function of blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala. Three diets incorporating 100% raw starch (R100), 100% gelatinized starch (G100) and 75% raw starch +25% gelatinized starch (R75/G25) were randomly assigned to 15 cages of fish for 10 weeks, after which fish were sampled. Then the remaining fish within each treatment were combined and later split into 6 tanks for a time series sampling in a glucose tolerance test. Daily gain index, relative feed intake and plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride, pyruvate and lactate all showed little difference among all the treatments. The R75/G25 group obtained the highest feed efficiency and tissue (namely liver and the abdominal fat tissue) glycogen contents. However, the highest tissue (namely muscle, liver and the abdominal fat tissue) lipid contents and plasma total cholesterol levels were both observed in the G100 group. In addition, the G100 group obtained significantly higher transcriptions of glucose transporter 2, glucokinase, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ and acetyl-CoA carboxylase α, but relatively low transcripts of the genes involved in gluconeogenesis and fatty acid β-oxidation, compared with the R100 group. The R100 group showed the highest glucose clearance rate, while the area under the glucose curve showed no statistical difference. Furthermore, the R100 group had relatively low activities of mitochondrial complex I, II, III and V as well as the transcriptions of cytochrome c oxidase 2, cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase 1 and ATP synthase 6 compared with other groups. Overall, our results suggested that high dietary inclusions of gelatinized starch could enhance the glucose transportation, glycolysis, lipogenesis, lipid deposition, glucose tolerance and mitochondrial function of blunt snout bream, while depress the gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation.

With high productivity and low land and water use, controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) like aquaponics and hydroponics has become a promising solution to feed the rapidly growing global population. However, both aquaponic and hydroponic systems require high energy input, leading to potential environmental burdens. This cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA), for the first time, compared the environmental performance, on an economic basis, of aquaponics and hydroponics with identical system design in Indiana, US. For a one-month cultivation period, tilapia and six vegetables produced in the aquaponic system had almost twice the total value of the vegetables from the hydroponic system. Aquaponics produced 45% lower endpoint environmental impact than hydroponics. Electricity use for greenhouse heating and lighting, and water pumping and heating contributed to the majority of the environmental impacts of both systems, which was followed by the production of fish feed and fertilizers. However, changing the energy source from coal to wind power could make the hydroponic system more environment-friendly than the aquaponic system. This LCA study can provide CEA farmers with the groundwork to reduce the environmental cost of their production.

[EN] The digestive tract, particularly the intestine, represents one of the main sites of interactions with the environment, playing the gut mucosa a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and in the immune defence. Previous researches have proven that the fishmeal replacement by plant sources could have an impact on the intestinal status at both digestive and immune level, compromising relevant productive parameters, such as feed efficiency, growth or survival. In order to evaluate the long-term impact of total fishmeal replacement on intestinal mucosa, the gut mucosa proteome was analysed in fish fed with a fishmeal-based diet, against plant protein-based diets with or without alternative marine sources inclusion. Total fishmeal replacement without marine ingredients inclusion, reported a negative impact in growth and biometric parameters, further an altered gut mucosa proteome. However, the inclusion of a low percentage of marine ingredients in plant protein-based diets was able to maintain the growth, biometrics parameters and gut mucosa proteome with similar values to FM group. A total fishmeal replacement induced a big set of underrepresented proteins in relation to several biological processes such as intracellular transport, assembly of cellular macrocomplex, protein localization and protein catabolism, as well as several molecular functions, mainly related with binding to different molecules and the maintenance of the cytoskeleton structure. The set of downregulated proteins also included molecules which have a crucial role in the maintenance of the normal function of the enterocytes, and therefore, of the epithelium, including permeability, immune and inflammatory response regulation and nutritional absorption. Possibly, the amino acid imbalance presented in VM diet, in a long-term feeding, may be the main reason of these alterations, which can be prevented by the inclusion of 15% of alternative marine sources. Significance: Long-term feeding with plant protein based diets may be considered as a stress factor and lead to a negative impact on digestive and immune system mechanisms at the gut, that can become apparent in a reduced fish performance. The need for fishmeal replacement by alternative ingredients such as plant sources to ensure the sustainability of the aquaculture sector has led the research assessing the intestinal status of fish to be of increasing importance. This scientific work provides further knowledge about the proteins and biologic processes altered in the gut in response to plant protein based diets, suggesting the loss of part of gut mucosa functionality. Nevertheless, the inclusion of alternative marine ingredients was able to reverse these negative effects, showing as a feasible option to develop sustainable aquafeeds., The first author was supported by a contract-grant (Contrato Pre doctoral para la Formacion de Profesorado Universitario) from Subprogramas de Formacion y Movilidad within the Programa Estatal de Promocion del Talento y su Empleabilidad of the Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte of Spain.

The unique charging properties of graphene oxide (GO) are exploited in the preparation of a range of noncovalent magnetic GO materials, using microparticles, nanoparticles, and magnetic surfactants. Adsorption and desorption are controlled by modification of pH within a narrow window of 2O3) microparticles form a loosely flocculated gel network with GO, which is demonstrated to undergo magnetic compressional dewatering in the presence of an external magnetic field. For composites formed from GO and Fe2O3 nanoparticles, it is found that low Fe2O3:GO mass ratios (5:1) cause overcharging of the surfaces resulting in restabilization. The effectiveness of the GO adsorption and magnetic capture process is demonstrated by separating traditionally difficult-to-recover gold nanoparticles (d ≈ 10 nm) from water. The fully recyclable nature of the assembly and capture process, combined with the vast adsorption capacity of GO, presents obvious and appealing advantages for applications in decontamination and water treatment.

Supramolecular assembly can yield ordered structures by taking advantage of the cumulative effect of multiple non-covalent interactions between adjacent molecules. The thermodynamic origin of many self-assembled structures in water is the balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments of the molecule. Here, we show that this approach can be generalized to use solvophobic and solvophilic segments of fully hydrophobic alkylated fullerene molecules. Addition of n-alkanes results in their assembly—due to the antipathy of ​C60 towards n-alkanes—into micelles and hexagonally packed gel-fibres containing insulated ​C60 nanowires. The addition of pristine ​C60 instead directs the assembly into lamellar mesophases by increasing the proportion of π-conjugated material in the mixture. The assembled structures contain a large fraction of optoelectronically active material and exhibit comparably high photoconductivities. This method is shown to be applicable to several alkyl–π-conjugated molecules, and can be used to construct organized functional materials with π-conjugated sections.

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of time after stimulation with domperidone (DOM), luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog (LHRHa), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), on features of spermiation including milt physical properties, sperm motility parameters, and sperm morphology, in Waigieu seaperch Psammoperca waigiensis. Male broodfish were injected with either 0.9% saline solution (control), or a single dose of DOM [20 mg/kg body weight (BW)], LHRHa (20, 50, or 80 μg/kg BW), or HCG (500, 1000, or 1500 IU/kg BW). Milt samples were collected before hormone induction (0 h) to assess original milt condition, and at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post injection (p.i.). Results showed that treatment with saline solution, DOM, or LHRHa did not significantly alter milt physical properties, sperm motility parameters, or sperm morphology. Treatment with HCG at a dose of 1000 IU/kg BW significantly increased milt volume, total sperm production, and sperm motility parameters, but decreased spermatocrit and sperm concentration at 48 h p.i. These parameters were significantly reduced at 72 h p.i. In conclusion, our results suggest that Waigieu seaperch milt should be collected 48 h after hormonal stimulation with a single dose of HCG (1000 IU/kg BW) to ensure high properties of milt such as milt volume, total sperm production, and sperm motility parameters.

[RN4][AOT] is a versatile surfactant ionic liquid that can be used in combination with N-Iodosuccinimide to promote the room temperature glycosylation of thiophenyl glycoside donors. The conditions are mild, with no requirement for molecular sieves, and are compatible with a wide range of donors and protecting groups. Under these conditions, a different range of disaccharides have been obtained in good to excellent yields and good stereoselectivities. Furthermore, the anomeric outcome of the glycosylation reaction using glycosyl donors with no participating group at C-2 could be tuned by switching the solvent from DCM to MeCN.

Several compounds within soybean meal (SBM) have been implicated as potentially having antinutritional effects when fed to trout. We conducted an 8-week study designed to elucidate the antinutritional impacts and possible interactions of soybean lectins (SBA), trypsin inhibitors (TI) and oligosaccharides (OLIG) fed to rainbow trout. All three antinutritional factors (ANF) were included at levels corresponding to a diet containing 40% SBM. Eight purified diets were formulated consisting of a control (devoid of ANF), SBA, TI, OLIG, SBA + TI, SBA + OLIG, TI + OLIG and SBA + TI + OLIG. Feed consumption, weight gain, feed efficiency, specific growth rate (SGR), protein retention, and serum chemistry responses were evaluated using a 23 factorial design. Two-factor analysis detected significant main-effect reductions in weight gain and SGR of fish fed SBA or TI in comparison to fish fed neither ANF. However, there were no significant interactive effects of ANF. A significant increase in amylase and 1-h post-prandial insulin response as a result of feeding OLIG was also detected using one-factor analysis. Results of this study indicate that the amounts of SBA or TI present in a 40% SBM diet fed to rainbow trout are high enough to significantly decrease production parameters.

Rapid expansion of aquacultural production is placing increasing demand on fish oil supplies and intensified the search for alternative lipid sources. Many of the potential alternative sources contain low concentrations of long chain n-3 fatty acids and the conversion of dietary linolenic acid to longer chain highly unsaturated fatty acids is a relatively inefficient process in some species. A 6-week study was conducted to compare tissue fatty acid (FA) concentrations in hybrid striped bass fed either 18:3n-3 (alpha-linolenic acid; ALA) or 18:4n-3 (stearidonic acid; SDA). Hybrid striped bass were fed either a control diet containing fish oil, or diets containing ALA or SDA at three different levels (0.5, 1 and 2% of the diet). There were no significant differences in whole animal responses between fish fed ALA or SDA. Liver and muscle concentrations of ALA and SDA were responsive to dosages fed. However, only 22:6n-3 concentrations in muscle were significantly affected by dietary source of 18 carbon precursors. Muscle 22:6n-3 concentrations were significantly higher in fish fed SDA compared to fish fed ALA. Based on these data, it appears that feeding SDA can increase long chain n-3 fatty acid concentrations in fish muscle.

Rapid methods of estimating dietary essential amino acid (EAA) requirements might facilitate increases in aquaculture production, particularly for new or emerging industries. We conducted a 12-week feeding study to test the hypothesis that whole body EAA concentrations and the quantified methionine requirement could be used to predict the remaining dietary EAA requirements for juvenile all-female yellow perch. Six purified diets were developed and fed to triplicate groups of fish for 12 weeks. The diets contained the EAA profile of fishmeal (FM), the profile as predicted by whole body analysis, the quantified methionine requirement and resulting A/E ratios (PRED), PRED + 20% of all EAA (PRED20), PRED + 40% of all EAA (PRED40), PRED + 20% threonine, isoleucine and tryptophan (PRED320), and PRED + 40% threonine, isoleucine and typtophan (PRED340). Mean weight gain and feed consumption were significantly higher in fish fed PRED20 (35.7 ± 3.2 and 55.0 ± 5.3 g, respectively) than in fish fed FSM (25.1 ± 0.4 g wt gain, 41.0 ± 1.9 g cons), PRED (23.4 ± 2.3 g wt gain, 40.1 ± 4.2 g cons) and PRED340 (22.9 ± 3.3 g wt gain, 35.0 ± 3.8 g cons). There was no significant difference in feed efficiency among treatments. We recommend an EAA profile similar to PRED20 for feeding all-female juvenile yellow perch.

Utilization of bio-regenerative life support systems (BLSS) plant waste residues as a nutritional source by Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has proven problematic as a result of high concentrations of fibrous compounds in the plant waste residues. Nutritional improvement of plant waste residues by composting with the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), and the effects on growth and nutrient utilization of Nile tilapia fed such residues were evaluated. Five Nile tilapia (mean weight = 70.9 ± 3.1 g) were stocked in triplicate aquaria and fed one of two experimental diets, cowpea (CP) and composted cowpea (CCP), twice daily for a period of 8 weeks. Composting of cowpea residue resulted in reduced concentrations of nitrogen-free extract, hemi-cellulose and trypsin inhibitor activity, though trypsin inhibitor activity remained high. Composting did not reduce crude fiber, lignin, or cellulose concentrations in the diet. No significant differences (P

Apparent digestibility of dry matter and energy, and availability of amino acids from blood meal (BM), fish meal (FM), meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by-product meal (PBM), soybean meal (SBM), corn, wheat and yellow grease (YG) were determined for bluegill Lepomis macrochirus (mean weight, 57 g), and likewise, but not for BM or wheat, for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (mean weight, 30 g). To avoid nutrient interaction from a reference diet, diets containing 98.5% (985 g kg−1) of test ingredients were used, except for semi-solid, YG which was mixed with corn to permit pelletization. Faeces were collected by a siphoning method. Apparent dry matter digestibility values ranged from 50% (corn) to 87% (BM) for bluegill and from 53% (MBM) to 76% (PBM) for largemouth bass. Apparent energy digestibility values ranged from 53% (corn) to 92% (BM) for bluegill and from 63% (MBM) to 93% (YG) for largemouth bass. Apparent digestibility of most amino acids exceeded 90% for evaluated protein sources, except for MBM which showed slightly lower values (80–90%) for both fishes. Isoleucine digestibility from BM was relatively low (82%) for bluegill. High digestibility values for SBM, PBM and BM, indicate good potential for replacing FM in diets for both fishes.

Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens are imperiled throughout their native range, and hatchery-reared fish are often stocked to facilitate population restoration. However, the rearing of hatchery fish requires knowledge of nitrogenous excretion rates for efficient culture system design and maintenance. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and urea nitrogen (UN) excretion rates were quantified in age-0 lake sturgeon that were either fasted or fed brine shrimp Artemia spp. In the first experiment, fish of three different size-classes (small [10–20 g], medium [50–65 g], and large [100–120 g]) were fasted for 5 d, and their nitrogenous excretions were measured at the end of this period. In the second experiment, lake sturgeon from different size-classes were fed low (0.5% of body weight [BW] on a dry-matter basis, 4.2% BW on a wet-weight basis), and high (1% BW on a dry-matter basis, 8.3% BW on a wet-weight basis) rations of Artemia. No UN was detected in fasted lake sturgeon. Endogenous TAN excretion rates va...

Many Indiana small- and medium-sized farm and ranch operators are looking at aquaculture to diversify their operations, but the underlying thought for most of these potential aquaculturists is the feasibility of raising fish, and whether consumers will be interested in Indiana aquaculture products. The study used an ordered probit model to examine Indiana consumers' interests in Indiana farm-raised aquaculture products. The model did not predict any non-interest but predicted 18% probability of consumers that are somewhat interested, 58% for consumers that are interested and 24% for consumers that are strongly interested. Factors that positively affected interest in Indiana aquaculture products were previous purchase of farm-raised aquaculture products, frequent at-home seafood consumption—once per week, and being at least 36 years of age. While consumers in the household income $20,000–$59,999 group showed interest, households with higher incomes were less interested. Prices that consumers are willing to...

Aquaculture of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) has been increasing, yet there have been few nutritional studies and no evaluations of alternative protein sources in diets. Solvent-extracted, dehulled soybean meal (SBM) and expelled-extruded soybean meal (exSBM) were fed to yellow perch to evaluate their effectiveness in replacing dietary fish meal (FM) in isonitrogenous practical feed formulations. Both soy ingredients were incorporated in graded amounts from 100 to 730 g kg−1 of the diet. Feed consumption, weight gain, feed efficiency (FE) and survival were significantly affected by type of soy ingredient, concentration and the interaction of the two main effects. Consumption was significantly lower in fish fed diets containing 400, 600 and 730 g kg−1 compared to fish fed diets containing lower concentrations. Weight gain was significantly lower in fish fed diets containing 600 g kg−1 and FE significantly lower in fish fed diets containing 500 g kg−1 compared to fish fed the control diet or lower concentrations of soy ingredients. Most fatty acid concentrations were affected by feeding exSBM compared to fish fed the control diet, but long chain fatty acids remained at relatively high concentrations. Based on feed consumption, weight gain and FE data, yellow perch are able to effectively utilize both soy ingredients in practical diets. A conservative recommendation of 300 g kg−1 diet appears appropriate for growout diets.

A study was conducted to evaluate fish meal-free practi­ cal diets, with and without amino acid supplementation, for the rearing offirst feeding Nile tilapia, Oreochromisniloticus. A basal diet was for­ mulated that appeared marginally deficient in lysine, methionine and threonine; thus, experimental diets were supplemented with all possible combinations of those three essential amino acids. Diets contained 45% crude protein and 12% lipid. Diets were fed to apparent satiation four times daily (0800, 1100, 1400, and 1700 hours) for a period of 30 days. No significant differences (P < 0.05) in specific growth rate, weight gain, apparent consumption, food conversion ratio or survival were observed. A significant difference (P < 0.01) in protein retention was observed be­ tween fish fed the positive control diet (51.84%) and experimental treat­ ments (22.80-35.17%). This initial evaluation of fish meal-free practical diets for first feeding Nile tilapia demonstrates the potential for elirninat

Continued growth and intensi¢cation of aquaculture production depends upon the development of sustainable protein sources to replace ¢sh meal in aquafeeds. This document reviews various plant feedstuis, which currently are or potentially may be incorporated into aquafeeds to support the sustainable production of various ¢sh species in aquaculture. The plant feedstuis considered include oilseeds, legumes and cereal grains, which traditionally have been used as protein or energy concentrates as well as novel products developed through various processing technologies. The nutritional composition of these various feedstuis are considered along with the presence of any bioactive compounds that may positively or negatively aiect the target organism. Lipid composition of these feedstuis is not speci¢cally considered although it is recognized that incorporating lipid supplements in aquafeeds to achieve proper fatty acid pro¢les to meet the metabolic requirements of ¢sh and maximize human health bene¢ts are important aspects. Speci¢c strategies and techniques to optimize the nutritional composition of plant feedstuis and limit potentially adverse eiects of bioactive compounds are also described. Such information will provide a foundation for developing strategic research plans for increasing the use of plant feedstuis in aquaculture to reduce dependence of animal feedstuis and thereby enhance the sustainability of aquaculture.

Nile tilapia were evaluated as a bio-regenerative sub-process for reducing solid waste potentially encountered in bio-regenerative life support systems. Ten juvenile Nile tilapia (mean weight = 2.05 g) were stocked into triplicate aquaria and fed one of seven experimental diets consisting of vegetable, bacterial, or food waste for a period of seven weeks. Weight gain (g), specific growth rate (mg/d), and daily consumption (g) was significantly higher ( p p p r 2 = 0.94), crude lipid retention and carbon retention ( r 2 = 0.92), WG and fiber content of dietary treatments ( r 2 = 0.92), WG and carbon retention and ( r 2 = 0.88), WG and lysine content of waste residues ( r 2 = 0.86), crude protein retention and carbon retention ( r 2 = 0.84), sulfur retention and crude protein retention ( r 2 = 0.84), and total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) content of residues and WG ( r 2 = 0.81). Weaker associations existed between WG and crude lipid retention ( r 2 = 0.77), crude fiber content and carbon retention ( r 2 = 0.76), and WG and methionine content of waste residues ( r 2 = 0.75). Additional research is needed to improve the nutritional quality of fibrous residues as a means to improve tilapia’s ability to utilize these residues as a food source in bio-regenerative support systems.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of hyperthermia on serum hormones, hepatic oxidization indices, hepatic heat shock protein (HSP60, 70, and 90) mRNA expression levels and liver cell ultrastructure in Megalobrama amblycephala before and after high temperature stress. Fish were exposed to the optimal temperature (25 ± 1 °C) or high temperature (32 ± 1 °C) and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The results showed that hyperthermic stress significantly increased serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) at 0.5 and 2 d, serum cortisol (COR) at 0.5, 14, and 21 d and serum 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) at 1, 14, and 21 d after stress. Additionally, hyperthermia led to oxidative stress, as evidenced by a significant decrease in the hepatic anti-superoxide anion free radical concentration (ASAFER) at 1, 2, 7, and 21 d and in hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 1, 2, 14 and 21 d after stress; however, hepatic malondialdehyde content (MDA) increased at 1, 2, and 7 d after stress. Moreover, the expression of HSP60 at 1 d, HSP70 at 1 and 2 d, and HSP90 at 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 d after stress was higher in the stress group compared with the control group. The histological results clearly showed that hyperthermia resulted in fat and glycogen accumulation and structural alterations of the hepatocytes, mitochondria, and nuclei. The cumulative mortality increased in the high temperature stress group at 1 d after acute stress and at 2 and 7 d after chronic stress compared with the control group. Overall, 1 d or 2 d after hyperthermia stress damaged the hepatic ultrastructure and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics. Dysfunction of the mitochondria subsequently mediated oxidative stress and improved HSP expression modulated the cellular anti-stress response, which in turn led to reduced efficacy of the immune system and increased mortality from Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Megalobrama amblycephala.

We determined the effect of enrofloxacin on the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) and apoptosis in the hepatic cell line of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Cultured cells were treated with different concentrations of enrofloxacin (12.5-200 ug/mL) for 24 h. We found that the cytotoxic effect of enrofloxacin was mediated by apoptosis, and that this apoptosis occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The doses of 50,100 and 200 μg/mL enrofloxacin increased the LDH release and MDA concentration, induced cell apoptosis and reduced the ΔΨm compared to the control. The highest dose of 200 ug/mL enrofloxacin also significantly induced apoptosis accompanied by ΔΨm disruption and ROS generation and significantly reduced T-AOC and increased MDA concentration compared to the control. Our results suggest that the dose of 200 ug/mL enrofloxacin exerts its cytotoxic effect and produced ROS via apoptosis by affecting the mitochondria of the hepatic cells of grass carp.

This study investigated the long-term effects of soybean meal (SBM)-based diets on rainbow trout quality. Two levels of SBM inclusion diets, 20% and 40%, were employed and compared with a fish meal control diet. Rainbow trout were fed one of the three diets for 6 mo, then harvested and filleted. Proximate composition, color, lipid oxidation and sensory quality of the fillets were evaluated. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and headspace propanal in ground fillets stored at 4 °C were measured over a 9-d period. Tristimulus color was measured on day 2 and day 13 of refrigerated storage. Sensory evaluation included discriminatory (difference) and affective (acceptance) testing. TBARS and propanal in the trout fed the highest (40%) SBM level were significantly lower than in the control and trout fed the 20% SBM diet. Significant differences in color were also recorded during refrigerated storage. Sensory difference testing revealed a significant difference between the trout fed the 40% SBM and the control. No significant differences were observed in the acceptability ratings of trout fillets from the three different dietary treatments.

Maintenance of crew health is of paramount importance for long duration space missions. Weight loss, bone and calcium loss, increased exposure to radiation and oxidative stress are critical concerns that need to be alleviated. Tilapia are currently under evaluation as a source of food and their contribution to reducing waste in advanced life support systems (ALSS). The nutritional composition of tilapia whole bodies, fillet, and carcass residues were quantitatively determined. Carbon and nitrogen free-extract percentages were similar among whole body (53.76% and 6.96%, respectively), fillets (47.06% and 6.75%, respectively), and carcass (56.36% and 7.04%, respectively) whereas percentages of N, S, and protein were highest in fillet (13.34, 1.34, and 83.37%, respectively) than whole body (9.27, 0.62, and 57.97%, respectively) and carcass (7.70, 0.39, and 48.15%, respectively). Whole body and fillet meet and/or exceeded current nutritional recommendations for protein, vitamin D, ascorbic acid, and selenium for international space station missions. Whole body appears to be a better source of lipids and n -3 fatty acids, calcium, and phosphorous than fillet. Consuming whole fish appears to optimize equivalent system mass compared to consumption of fillets. Additional research is needed to determine nutritional composition of tilapia whole body, fillet, and carcass when fed waste residues possibly encountered in an ALSS.

We tested the hypothesis that dorsal horn laminae III–IV cell receptive fields (RFs) are initially established in three steps: cutaneous axons penetrate the dorsal horn near their rostrocaudal (RC) levels of entry into the spinal cord. Their terminal branches distribute mediolaterally (ML) according to their relative distoproximal RF locations on the leg, and form nonselective synapses with nearby dorsal horn cell dendrites, establishing the initial dorsal horn cell RFs. Rootlet axon RFs in adult cats were used to approximate the RC entry levels of hindlimb skin input. Cord dorsum recordings of monosynaptic field potentials evoked by electrical skin stimulation provided the RC distributions of synaptic input. These were in close agreement. Simulated projections of all 22,000 hindlimb axons were similar to projections predicted from EPSP distributions, and with the observed projections of dorsal roots, cutaneous nerves, and individual axons. The simulated terminals were connected nonselectively to nearby dendrites of 135,000 simulated lamina III–IV cells whose dendritic surface area distributions were based on intracellularly stained cells. There was an overall similarity among pre- and postsynaptic embryonic and adult somatotopies, with a progressive transformation of RF angular location as a function of RC, ML dorsal horn location from an initial embryonic presynaptic concentric pattern to an adult postsynaptic radial one. The initial embryonic dorsal horn cell RF assembly hypothesis was supported by the simulations, as was the additional hypothesis that further refinement of connections would be necessary to establish sufficient selectivity to account for observed adult RFs and somatotopy.