Effects of palm oil blended with oxidized fish oil on growth performances, hematology, and several immune parameters in juvenile Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicas

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of palm oil blended with oxidized and non-oxidized fish oil on growth performances, hematology, and non-specific immune response in juvenile Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicas. Japanese sea bass (1.73 ± 0.01 g) were fed seven experimental diets containing 100 g/kg of dietary lipid in forms of palm oil (10P), fish oil (10F), fish oil blended with palm oil at different ratios, 6:4 (6F4P) and 4:6 (4F6P), oxidized fish oil (10OF), and oxidized fish oil blended with palm oil at different ratios, 6:4 (6OF4P) and 4:6 (4OF6P). After the feeding trial, the following results were illustrated. No significant effects were observed in survival, feed conversion ratio, condition factor, and hematocrit after feeding with experimental diets for 60 days. The relatively higher specific growth rate and hematology were observed in 6F4P. Furthermore, both palm oil and oxidized fish oil acted as a negatively on serum lysozyme activity (P < 0.05). This study suggested that a ration of 6F4P is recommended as an innocuous ratio for Japanese sea bass. Furthermore, according to the present investigation, palm oil seems to have the ability to improve the protein efficiency when added to oxidized fish diets as well as a positive trend to the growth performance (P > 0.05).     

Effect of dietary lipid oxidation with vitamin C and E supplementation on fillet quality of red sea bream,Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel) during storage

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of dietary vitamin C (VC) and E (VE) supplementation on fillet quality of red sea bream fed oxidized fish oil (OFO). Fish with an average body weight of 205.0 g were fed four test diets for 9 weeks. Control diet contained fresh fish oil (FFO) with 100 mg kg^?1 of VE and 500 mg kg^?1 of VC (FFO100E/500C). The other three diets contained OFO with varying levels of VE (mg kg^?1) and VC (mg kg^?1) (OFO100E/500C, OFO200E/500C and OFO200E/1000C). After feeding trial, two fillets from each fish by hand filleting were stored in a refrigerator at 4°C for 96 h during analyses. Results showed that fish fed OFO increased fillet thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and K‐value, and decreased fillet VC and VE concentrations during storage time. Supplementation of VC did not have any detectable effect on fillet quality. Increasing dietary VE supplementation increased fillet VE concentrations, reduced fillet TBARS and K‐value values of red sea bream. Therefore, we suggest that dietary supplementation of 200 mg kg^?1 of vitamin E could improve fillet oxidative stability of red sea bream fed OFO.     

Effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on survival,growth and stress resistance in larval and post‐larval kuruma shrimp,Marsupenaeus japonicus

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of chemically synthesized astaxanthin (Ax) on growth performance, survival, and stress resistance in larval and post‐larval kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus). Six dietary levels of Ax (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg diet) were added to a baseline diet. As a first study, an 8‐day feeding trial was conducted on larval kuruma shrimp, with results showing that larvae‐fed diets supplemented with different Ax levels exhibited better performance during developmental and metamorphosis to postlarvae. Broken‐line regression analysis indicated that the optimal levels for growth and stress resistance of larvae were 168.9 mg/kg and 82.1 mg/kg diet, respectively. Second, a 30‐day feeding trial was conducted on post‐larval shrimp. Supplementation with 100 and 200 mg/kg Ax yielded significantly higher final body weight, body weight gain and specific growth rate than that in a control group. A cumulative mortality index for osmotic stress revealed significantly better performance in a group fed 200 mg/kg supplementation than in controls. Broken‐line regression analysis indicated that the optimal levels for growth and stress resistance of postlarvae were 108.7 mg/kg and 178.1 mg/kg diet, respectively. Based on these results, we suggest that carefully dosed Ax supplementation is a beneficial nutritional strategy for the early developmental stages of kuruma shrimp.     

Evaluation of strength distribution at cut slope of decomposed granite with the use of sounding method and geophysical exploration method

Paddy and Water Environment - Natural slopes and cut slopes frequently collapse due to heavy rain and earthquakes, causing disasters. Countermeasures must be applied to mitigate such disasters....     

Relationships between light, leaf nitrogen and nitrogen remobilization in the crowns of mature evergreen Quercus glauca trees

We estimated the amount of nitrogen (N) remobilized from 1-year-old leaves at various positions in the crowns of mature Quercus glauca Thunb. ex Murray trees and related this to the production of new shoots. Leaf N concentration on an area basis (Na) and total N (Nt= Na x lamina area of all leaves on a shoot) were related to photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) on the leaves of current-year and 1-year-old shoots. When new shoots (S02 shoots; flushed in 2002) flushed, only a portion of the leaves on the previous year's shoots (S01 shoots; flushed in 2001) were shed. After the S02 shoots flushed, S01 shoots were defined as 1-year-old shoots (S01* shoots). Both Na and Nt were positively correlated with PPF for S01 shoots, but not for S01* shoots. The fraction of remobilized N (% of the maximum Na in S01 leaves) from remaining leaves was 5-35%, with the fraction size being positively correlated with the number of S02 shoots on an S01* shoot (new shoot number). However, the mean fraction of remobilized N from fallen leaves was 45% and was unrelated to new shoot number. The total amount of N remobilized from both fallen and remaining leaves was 1-20 mg per S01* shoot. Total remobilized N was positively correlated with new shoot number. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between the light-saturated net photosynthetic rate on a leaf area basis (Amax) and Na for both S01* and S02 leaves. However, when we compared leaves with similar Na, Amax of S01* leaves was only half that of S02 leaves, indicating that 1-year-old leaves had lower instantaneous N-use efficiency (Amax per unit Na) than current-year leaves. Ratios of chlorophyll a:b and Rubisco:chlorophyll were lower in S01* leaves than in S02 leaves, indicating that 1-year-old leaves were acclimatized to lower light environments. Thus, in Q. glauca, the N allocation theory (i.e., that N is distributed according to local PPF) applied only to the current-year shoots. Although the amount of foliar N in 1-year-old shoots was not strongly affected by the PPF on 1-year-old leaves, it was affected by interactions with current-year shoots.     

An Antibody Against the SecA Membrane Protein of One Phytoplasma Reacts with Those of Phylogenetically Different Phytoplasmas

ABSTRACT Antisera raised against phloem-limited phytoplasmas generally react only with the phytoplasma strain used to produce the antigen. There is a need for an antiserum that reacts with a variety of phytoplasmas. Here, we show that an antiserum raised against the SecA membrane protein of onion yellows phytoplasma, which belongs to the aster yellows 16S-group, detected eight phytoplasma strains from four distinct 16S-groups (aster yellows, western X, rice yellow dwarf, and elm yellows). In immunoblots, approximately 96-kDa SecA protein was detected in plants infected with each of the eight phytoplasmas. Immunohistochemical staining of thin sections prepared from infected plants was localized in phloem tissues. This antiserum should be useful in the detection and histopathological analysis of a wide range of phytoplasmas.     

Coumestrol decreases intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity in post-delivery mice but does not affect vitamin D receptor and calcium channels in post-delivery and neonatal mice

In this study, we investigated the effects of administration of coumestrol during pregnancy on calcium (Ca) metabolism in post-delivery maternal and neonatal mice. From 6.5 to 16.5 days post coitus (dpc), pregnant females were administered daily doses of coumestrol (200 microg/kg body weight/day). One day after parturition, blood samples and the kidneys, liver, jejunum and duodenum were obtained from each of maternal mouse, and blood samples and the kidneys and liver were obtained from neonatal mice. Coumestrol did not have any significant effect on the Ca and inorganic phosphorus concentrations in the sera of the maternal and neonatal mice. No notable effects of coumestrol were observed in relation to Vitamin D receptor expression in the maternal and neonatal mice by immunohistochemical analysis. Coumestrol did not affect the Vitamin D receptor and epithelial calcium channel and 2 mRNA levels in any of the organs investigated. Enzyme histochemical analysis showed that coumestrol decreased intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity in the maternal jejunum and duodenum. In the duodenum, coumestrol decreased expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase, c-fos and vascular endothelial growth factor at the mRNA level. However, we did not observe any significant effects of coumestrol on the expression of these genes. In conclusion, coumestrol decreased intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity in the small intestines of maternal mice at the level used in the present study, and the mechanisms underlying this effect are different for the jejunum and duodenum.     

Inosine supplementation effectively provokes the growth,immune response,oxidative stress resistance and intestinal morphology of juvenile red sea bream,Pagrus major

A feeding trial was conducted to determine effects of dietary inosine on growth, immune responses, oxidative stress resistance and intestinal morphology of juvenile red sea bream. A semi‐purified basal diet supplemented with 0 (D1, control), 2 g kg^?1 (D2), 4 g kg^?1 (D3), 6 g kg^?1 (D4) and 8 g kg^?1 (D5) dietary inosine, respectively, to formulate five experimental diets. Each diet was randomly allocated to triplicate groups of fish (initial weight: 8 g). After 50 days of feeding trial, fish fed diets with 4 g kg^?1 inosine had the highest (p < .05) final weight, weight gain and specific growth rate. Similarly, improved feed intake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were also found at 4 g kg^?1 inosine supplemented group. Some non‐specific immune parameters such as total serum protein, lysozyme activity and bactericidal activity tended to be higher for fish fed diets supplemented with inosine. Peroxidase and catalase activity also influenced (p < .05) by dietary inosine supplementation. Fish fed 2 g kg^?1 and 4 g kg^?1 inosine supplemented diets showed the least oxidative stress condition. Inosine supplementation significantly increased (p < .05) anterior enterocyte height and posterior fold height, enterocyte height and microvillus height compared with control. We concluded that 4 g kg^?1 dietary inosine supplementation effectively provokes growth and health performance of red sea bream by increasing growth, immune response, oxidative stress resistance and intestinal health condition.     

Effects of dietary astaxanthin and vitamin E and their interactions on the growth performance,pigmentation, digestive enzyme activity of kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus)

A 56‐day feeding trial was done to investigate the interactive effects of astaxanthin (Ax) and vitamin E (α‐Toc) on the performance of kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus). A 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted with six experimental diets containing two levels of Ax (0 and 0.6 g/kg diet [Ax₀ and Ax_0.6]) and three levels of α‐Toc (0, 0.2 and 1 g/kg diet [α‐Toc₀, α‐Toc_0.2 and α‐Toc₁]). The results indicated that growth performance was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in shrimp fed with the Ax_0.6 × α‐Toc_0.2 diet. Interactive effects between Ax and α‐Toc on the growth parameters were observed. Furthermore, pigmentation performance was significantly (p < 0.05) better in the Ax_0.6 groups. Interaction between Ax and α‐Toc was also found in the Ax content of shrimp body parts. Interestingly, dietary α‐Toc helped to reduce the Ax consumption rate, promote the absorption and increase the deposition of Ax in the muscle. Shrimps from the Ax_0.6 groups showed significantly (p < 0.05) improved hepatopancreatic digestive enzyme activities compared with those of the Ax₀ groups. Although no interactive (p > 0.05) effects were found between dietary α‐Toc and Ax on total haemocyte count and tolerance against freshwater, dietary Ax and α‐Toc supplementation showed better performance on these two parameters. It was concluded that dietary Ax and α‐Toc functioned synergistically, and the shrimp fed with the diet containing 0.6 g Ax/kg diet Ax and 0.2 g α‐Toc/kg diet showed improved growth and pigmentation performance compared with the other groups in the current study.