The effects of endosulfan on P450 1A gene expression, antioxidant enzymes activity and histopathological alterations in liver of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1987)

The effects of 14 days exposure to sublethal concentrations of endosulfan (10 and 40 μg L−1) were investigated in mRNA- P450 1A expression, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activity and histopathological alterations of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) fingerlings with weights of 3–5 g. The results illustrated that the relative mRNA- P450 1A expression level significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Highest significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed on the first day, then decreased towards day 14 of exposure. The SOD and CAT activity showed a significant increase in fish exposed to different concentrations up to day 7, then activity decreased on day 14 in fish of all treated groups. Although signs of tissue lesions were observed on day 4, they increased from day 7 and reached the highest level on day 14. The magnitude of all changed studied parameters (gene expression, enzymes and histopathological) follows a concentration-dependent manner. © 2016 Blackwell Verlag Gmb

Survey of effects of different concentrations of electrolytes and pH on characterization of sperm motility in wild carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Effects of pH, Na, K, Ca^+ Mg^2+ ions on characterization of sperm motility (duration of motility and percentage of motility) of wild carp (C. carpio) were investigated. After determination of optimum pH, its interaction effect with Na, K, Ca^2+ and Mg^2+ was studied. Maximum motility (duration of motility and percentage of motility) was observed at pH=8.5. Effects of different treatments of NaCl on sperm motility was significantly different (P<0.05) while that of the MgCl _(2) was significantly different (P<0.05). In general, it is concluded that movement of spermatozoa of wild carp is influenced by high concentration of ions

Benthic macroinvertebrate distribution in Tajan River using canonical correspondence analysis

The distribution of macroinvertebrate communities from 5 sampling sites of Tajan River were used to examine the relationship among physiochemical parameters with macroinvertebrate communities and also to assess ecological classification system as a tool for the management and conservation purposes.The amount of variation explained in macroinvertebrate taxa composition is within values reported in similar studies. Results of CCA ordination showed that the dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, pH and TSS were the most important physicochemical factors to affect distribution of macroinvertebrate communities. The study revealed that macroinvertebrate communities of Tajan River may be explained by physiochemical parameters. Mean values of Shannon–Wiener diversity index calculated for macroinvertebrates ranged from 1.35± 0.07 (S5) to 1.86± 0.10 (S1). According to the Shannon–Wiener diversity index the S1 sampling site was categorized in ‘‘good‘‘ and the sampling sites S2 and S3 in ‘‘moderate’’ and S5 in ‘‘moderate to substantially polluted” classes. The anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. trout farms and effluents from factories) impacted abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrate

Assessment of fish farm effluents on macroinvertebrates based on biological indices in Tajan River (north Iran)

Impacts of effluent from fish farming activities on fluvial ecosystems lead to deterioration of water quality and changes in the macroinvertebrates assemblage. In this study, the influence of fish farm effluents on water quality and macroinvertebrates communities of Tajan River was investigated to evaluate the suitability of macroinvertebrates based on biological metrics and indices. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed seasonally for a period of one year . Five sampling stations were selected along the study reach of 50 km. Station 1(S1) which is located upstream from the fish farm, was used as the reference site. Station S2 and S3 were located downstream from the fish farm outlet; S4 and S5 were further downstream. In order to assess the changes in diversity and richness in relation to water quality,two major groups of sites based on similarity between macroinvertebrate communities identified by cluster analysis. Diversity of macroinvertebrates, EPT richness and EPT/CHIR indices significantly decreased toward downstream stations except for station S4. Conversely, values of HFBI and Jacard index significantly increased in the downstream stations. The present study revealed significant differences in water quality parameters between the stations located above and below the fish farms. Owing to the relatively high diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates inhabiting rivers, use of macroinvertebrate based biological indices is recommended for assessment of water quality and pollution in fluvial systems

Effects of different levels of Daphnia and Artemia extracts on food acceptability and growth factor rates of beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758)

In a 30 day feeding trial, Daphnia and Artemia extracts were added to diets of juvenile Beluga (Huso huso) at different levels to evaluate its effects on growth and survival rate of the fish. The trial was carried out in aquaculture research center of the Gorgan University, during which three different dietary levels of extracts (1:25, 1: 50 and 1:100) were used in 250 liter PVC tanks filled with about 125 liters of water. A total of 20 juvenile Beluga with an average weight of 5 plus or minus 0.2g each was stocked in tanks and were fed 4 meals a day. Growth and survival factors were analyzed at the end of the trial period. The results showed that the addition of extracts in diets led to improvement of body weight increase, weight increase percentage, specific growth rate (SGR), daily growth rate (DGR), daily growth index (DGI), condition factor (CF), price index (PI) and decrease of food conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control treatment. The best improvement of growth index was achieved at the dietary level 1:50 Artemia extracts. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in survival among treatments

Length-length, length-weight relationship and relative condition factor of pike, Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758, in Anzali Wetland (Southwest of the Caspian Sea)

The length-length (LLRs), length-weight (LWR) relationships and relative condition factor (Kn) of 505 specimens of pike, (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1798) from Anzali Wetland, southwest of the Caspian Sea, were studied from April 2012 through March 2013. The length-length relationships among total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) for pike were found to be highly significant (r2>0.986, P<0.001). The values of b in length-weight relationship in males (3.1495), females (3.1843) and for all specimens (3.2137) indicated isometric growth. Mean relative condition factor for male, female and all specimens were 1.003, 1.004 and 1.008 respectively. The result of LWR could be used for fishery managers to approve appropriate regulations for sustainable fishery management. Few studies have been conducted on these parameters of pike and this is the first report on LLRs, LWR and Kn of pike from Iranian waters

Heavy metals Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in tissue, liver of Esox lucius and sediment from the Anzali international lagoon- Iran

Levels of contaminants in fish are of particular interest because of the potential risk to humans consuming them. This paper examines the levels of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper in liver and muscle tissue of Esox lucius and in sediments from the Anzali international wetland in Iran. The wetland is a nursery and feeding habitat for fish species both from the lagoon and the Caspian Sea, which are consumed by the local inhabitants and others. Eleven main rivers discharge agricultural, industrial, urban and municipal wastes into this wetland. Twenty five Esox lucius specimens, with a mean weight of 804.6±121g and mean length of 430.7± 2mm were collected from the wetland by multi mesh gill nets in September and December 2007.. The age was determined from scale samples according to the annual ring structure. Average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn accumulated in the mid-dorsal muscle tissue (filleted and skinned) of fish were 0.001, 0.21±0.02, 0.13±0.01 and 2.55±0.18 µg.g-1, respectively. The concentrations of these metals in liver samples were Cd: 0.0014± Cu: 0.96± 0.61, Pb: 0.11 ± 0.04 and Zn: 2.46±1.5 µg.g-1. Significant positive correlations were detected between Zn and Cu with body weight, while negative correlations were found between Pb and body weight. The concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cd were below the maximum allowable concentrations for fish proposed by WHO and MAFF (safe for human consumption) but concentration of Pb exceeded the standard levels

Histopathological changes in liver and gill of Acipenser persicus fry in short term exposure to Nodularia spumigena

Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus is a native, commercially important and highly steemed fish species in the Caspian Sea. In this study, effects of Nodularin (NODLN), a cyclic pentapeptide hepatotoxin, on liver and gill tissues of A. persicus were studied. Nodularin was produced in high amounts by Nodularia spumigena, a cyanobacterium species during the algal bloom in the Caspian Sea and was accumulated in biota of the Sea. Persian sturgeon were exposed directly to NODLN as prolonged immersion containing N. spumigena in two different doses (1×104 and 1× 108 cells.ml-1) for 24, 48 and 96 hours to examine its histopathological effects on fish liver and gill. Histopathological examinations revealed loss of liver architecture, degeneration of hepatocytes, nuclear pyknosis, karyolysis and finally necrosis of the cells over the time. Observation of gill tissues following immersion in algal cells treatments showed hypertrophy, fusion of secondary lamellae due to proliferation (hyperplasia) of branchial epithelium in low dose and vacuolization of epithelial and pilar cells, tellangiectasis, fusion of secondary and primary lamellae, complete necrosis and sloughing of secondary lamellar epithelium in high dose

Seasonal variation of chemical composition and fatty acid profile of ovary in wild common carp (Cyprinus carpio) of southeastern Caspian Sea

Chemical composition and fatty acid profile of common carp's gonad (ovary) were assessed. Protein, lipid, fatty acid profile and moisture content were determined during 4 seasons’ summer, autumn, winter in 2007 and spring in 2008. For each season 10 samples were examined. Average of gonadosomatic index in wild common carp was 7.53 ±5.02. Proximate composition of ovary during the study period showed the lipid at 8.06 ±2.20; protein at 23.26 ±4.85; and moisture at 67.12 ±3.85. The results showed lipid content of wild fish ovary increased from summer to spring (summer 6.875 ±0.53; autumn 7.07 ±2.12; winter 7.96 ±1.22; spring 9.44 ±3.62), protein content also increased from summer to spring (summer 12.920.09; autumn 23 ±1.32; winter 25.16 ±0.63; spring 27.11 ±0.63), moisture content decreased in this period (summer 75.235 ±1.75; autumn 68.25 ±2.28; winter 65.685 ±0.40; spring 63.43 ±0.11). Significant differences (P0.05). Saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased from summer to spring (spawning season). The major fatty acids identified in common carp ovary were Oleic (C18:1), palmitic (C16:0), Docosahexanoic acid (C22:6 DHA), Palmitoleic (C16:1), Arachidonic, AA (C20:4), Stearic (C18:0), Eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 EPA) and Linoleic (C18:2) in all seasons. Lipid, protein and omega 3 PUFA increased during gonad maturation. It seems that these resources of energy are necessary for embryogenesis

The role of social networks for combating money laundering

Money laundering is the disguising of the illegal origin of money by bringing it back into the legal financial circuit. Therefore, in this dissertation I try to establish a theoretical framework to understand the role of social networks, and the link between criminals and legal actors in the money laundering process. I focus on the money laundering method called smurfing; the splitting of large criminal proceeds into small inconspicuous amounts, and since this technique typically requires a network, it requires potential criminals to form links with other people and to construct a money laundering network to launder their money. The research questions are focused on how the networks are formed when criminals strategically form links to launder their money and what the shape of the network is at the macro-level. Moreover, focus is also on optimal policies to fight crime and money laundering, both at the national and the international level. Towards this end, I introduce social network and game theory into the field of money laundering. The study also includes some simulations in order to find the optimal budget for anti-money laundering policy. InChapter 2, I analyze a typical drug-crime scenario by presenting a simple model to study the formation of a money laundering network in this context. I assume that there are three types of actors: criminal bosses, foot soldiers, and dishonest workers. I show that the money laundering network at the macro level has an extended inter-linked star structure in which the talented criminal bosses are fully interconnected. I also show that agents’ willingness to become criminals is endogenously dependent on the wage of workers. In Chapters 3 and 4, I consider only two groups of agents in the network, potential criminals and workers. After characterizing the network I analyze the national and international policy to combat money laundering. The crucial focus of Chapter 3 is the analysis of the optimal mixture of anti-crime and anti-money laundering policies. Which policies should a law enforcement agency focus on to combat either crime or money laundering in order to minimize total criminal activity in a society? In the present model, this is expressed in terms of an optimal budget sharing rule. I also empirically implement the model using real world data and calculate the optimal policy response numerically with a macro-level “sufficient statistics’’ approach. The aim of Chapter 4 is to theoretically assess different options for transnational policy cooperation to fight crime and money laundering. I consider four regimes to combat money laundering: a decentral regime without an international information exchange; a decentral regime with an information exchange; a central regime with an evenly split budget among the two countries; a central regime with a tailor-made budget. I determined the best option from the viewpoint of each country and from the overall viewpoint, considering countries that differ in average income and country sizes. My findings show that the first-best regime is to implement a central authority which allocates tailor-made budgets