629 research outputs found

    Editorial: Rising stars in aquatic physiology: 2022

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    Promoting and visualizing cutting-edge research from young generations is the cornerstone of our academic environment. Under this scenario, this Research Topic aims gathering innovative research studies on aquatic physiology, studies that range from ecological field studies focused on how ocean acidification might affect cleaning fish services in reefs (Paula et al.) to molecular biology studies dedicated to the characterization of genes involved in longevity in two molluscan species (Xu et al.) and cortisol receptors expression in a teleostean fish (Vallejos-Vidal et al.). Additionally, a fourth manuscript has been published in this Research Topic, a very interesting study describing how parental metabolite provisioning is directed to offspring (both spermatozoa and developing embryos) in an elasmobranch lecithotrophic viviparous species (Wosnick et al.).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Determinism and causative factors for morphological anomalies in reared European fishes

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    The presence of sublethal morphological deformities represents one of the main bottleneck of the industrial finfish hatchery production, resulting in major economic loss due to reduced growth and marketing ability of the final product, that has to be transformed (filets) or sold for fish flour. Furthermore, the elimination of deformed fishes from the productive cycle needs for periodic selections at present carried out by manual sorting. This represents an additional economic cost, and a stress for fishes

    Different Fish Meal and Fish Oil Dietary Levels in European Sea Bass: Welfare Implications After Acute Confinement Stress

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    open9siTo provide practical feeding management guidelines preceding a stressful episode during farming practices, European sea bass juveniles (initial weight: 72.3 g) were fed for 60-days different fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) dietary levels [high (30% FM, 15% FO, FM30/FO15), intermediate (20% FM, 7% FO, FM20/FO7), and low (10% FM, 3% FO, FM10/FO3)] in triplicate conditions. Fish were then fasted for 36 h and exposed to a 2-h acute crowding (80 kg m–3 biomass). Plasma biochemistry, skin mucus parameters and gene expression of stress and immune-related genes were performed before, at 2 and 24 h after crowding. At the end of the trial, the FM10/FO3 group showed lower final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate compared to the other treatments. Most of the plasma parameters were mainly affected by crowding condition rather than diet; however, after stress, lactate was higher in the FM30/FO15 group compared to the other treatments. Similarly, protease, antiprotease, peroxidase and lysozyme in skin mucus were mostly affected by crowding conditions, while fish fed FM10/FO3 displayed higher skin mucosal IgM and bactericidal activity against Vibrio anguillarum and V. harveyi. Most of the stress-related genes considered (hsp70 and gr-1 in the brain; hsp70, gr-1 and gr-2 in the head kidney), showed an overall expression pattern that increased over time after stress, in addition, hsp70 in the head kidney was also up-regulated in fish fed FM30/FO15 after stress. Higher plasmatic lactate together with the up-regulation of some stress-related transcripts suggest a higher reactivity to acute crowding of the stress-response mechanism in fish fed high FM and FO dietary levels. Otherwise, the higher skin mucosal IgM and bactericidal activity observed in fish fed FM10/FO3 dietary levels seems to indicate that acute crowding was able to activate a higher pro-inflammatory response in this treatment. Overall, the results of the present study seem to indicate that 10% FM and 3% FO dietary levels might affect stress and immune responses.openPelusio N.F.; Bonaldo A.; Gisbert E.; Andree K.B.; Esteban M.A.; Dondi F.; Sabetti M.C.; Gatta P.P.; Parma L.Pelusio N.F.; Bonaldo A.; Gisbert E.; Andree K.B.; Esteban M.A.; Dondi F.; Sabetti M.C.; Gatta P.P.; Parma L

    Kernel learning for ligand-based virtual screening: discovery of a new PPARγ agonist

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    Poster presentation at 5th German Conference on Cheminformatics: 23. CIC-Workshop Goslar, Germany. 8-10 November 2009 We demonstrate the theoretical and practical application of modern kernel-based machine learning methods to ligand-based virtual screening by successful prospective screening for novel agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) [1]. PPARgamma is a nuclear receptor involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, and related to type-2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. Applied methods included a graph kernel designed for molecular similarity analysis [2], kernel principle component analysis [3], multiple kernel learning [4], and, Gaussian process regression [5]. In the machine learning approach to ligand-based virtual screening, one uses the similarity principle [6] to identify potentially active compounds based on their similarity to known reference ligands. Kernel-based machine learning [7] uses the "kernel trick", a systematic approach to the derivation of non-linear versions of linear algorithms like separating hyperplanes and regression. Prerequisites for kernel learning are similarity measures with the mathematical property of positive semidefiniteness (kernels). The iterative similarity optimal assignment graph kernel (ISOAK) [2] is defined directly on the annotated structure graph, and was designed specifically for the comparison of small molecules. In our virtual screening study, its use improved results, e.g., in principle component analysis-based visualization and Gaussian process regression. Following a thorough retrospective validation using a data set of 176 published PPARgamma agonists [8], we screened a vendor library for novel agonists. Subsequent testing of 15 compounds in a cell-based transactivation assay [9] yielded four active compounds. The most interesting hit, a natural product derivative with cyclobutane scaffold, is a full selective PPARgamma agonist (EC50 = 10 ± 0.2 microM, inactive on PPARalpha and PPARbeta/delta at 10 microM). We demonstrate how the interplay of several modern kernel-based machine learning approaches can successfully improve ligand-based virtual screening results

    The influence of ethylene and ethylene modulators on shoot organogenesis in tomato

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    [EN] The influence of ethylene and ethylene modulators on the in vitro organogenesis of tomato was studied using a highly regenerating accession of the wild tomato Solanum pennellii and an F1 plant resulting from a cross between Solanum pennellii and Solanum lycopersicum cv. Anl27, which is known to have a low regeneration frequency. Four ethylene-modulating compounds, each at four levels, were used, namely: cobalt chloride (CoCl 2), which inhibits the production of ethylene; AgNO 3 (SN), which inhibits ethylene action; and Ethephon and the precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), which both promote ethylene synthesis. Leaf explants of each genotype were incubated on shoot induction medium supplemented with each of these compounds at 0, 10 or 15 days following bud induction. The results obtained in our assays indicate that ethylene has a significant influence on tomato organogenesis. Concentrations of ethylene lower than the optimum (according to genotype) at the beginning of the culture may decrease the percentage of explants with buds (B), produce a delay in their appearance, or indeed inhibit bud formation. This was observed in S. pennellii and the F1 explants cultured on media with SN (5.8-58.0 ¿M) as well as in the F1 explants cultured on medium with 21.0 ¿M CoCl 2. The percentage of explants with shoots (R) and the mean number of shoots per explant with shoots (PR) also diminished in media that contained SN. Shoots isolated from these explants were less developed compared to those isolated from control explants. On the other hand, ethylene supplementation may contribute to enhancing shoot development. The number of isolable shoots from S. pennellii explants doubled in media with ACC (9.8-98.0 ¿M). Shoots isolated from explants treated with ethylene releasing compounds showed a higher number of nodes when ACC and Ethephon were added at 10 days (in F1 explants) or at 15 days (in S. pennellii) after the beginning of culture. Thus, the importance of studying not only the concentration but also the timing of the application of regulators when developing regeneration protocols has been made manifest. An excess of ethylene supplementation may produce an inhibitory effect, as was observed when using Ethephon (17.2-69.0 ¿M). These results show the involvement of ethylene in tomato organogenesis and lead us to believe that ethylene supplementation may contribute to enhancing regeneration and shoot development in tomato. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.Carlos Trujillo has a predoctoral fellowship from the Spanish 'Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia'. This work has been funded by Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PAID 05-10). The technical assistance of N. Palacios and the revision of the manuscript's English by J. Bergen are gratefully acknowledged.Trujillo Moya, C.; Gisbert Domenech, MC. (2012). The influence of ethylene and ethylene modulators on shoot organogenesis in tomato. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 111(1):141-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-012-0168-zS1411481111Abeles FB, Morgan PW, Saltveit ME (1992) Ethylene in plant biology. Academic Press, San DiegoBhatia P, Ashwath N, Senaratna T, David M (2004) Tissue culture studies of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 78:1–21Bhatia P, Ashwath N, Midmore DJ (2005) Effects of genotype, explant orientation, and wounding on shoot regeneration in tomato. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol-Plant 41:457–464Biddington NL (1992) The Influence of ethylene in plant-tissue culture. Plant Growth Regul 11:173–187Brown DC, Thorpe TA (1995) Crop improvement through tissue culture. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 11(4):409–415Chraibi KMB, Latche A, Roustan JP, Fallot J (1991) Stimulation of shoot regeneration from cotyledons of Helianthus annuus by the ethylene inhibitors,silver and cobalt. Plant Cell Rep 10:204–207Devi R, Dhaliwal MS, Kaur A, Gosal SS (2008) Effect of growth regulators on in vitro morphogenic response of tomato. Indian J Biotechnol 7:526–530Dias LLC, Santa-Catarina C, Ribeiro DM, Barros RS, Floh EIS, Otoni WC (2009) Ethylene and polyamine production patterns during in vitro shoot organogenesis of two passion fruit species as affected by polyamines and their inhibitor. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 99:199–208Dimasi-Theriou K, Economou AS (1995) Ethylene enhances shoot formation in cultures of the peach rootstock GF-677 (Prunus persica × P. amygdalus). Plant Cell Rep 15:87–90Gisbert C, Arrillaga I, Roig LA, Moreno V (1999) Adquisition of a collection of Lycopersicon pennellii (Corr. D’Arcy) transgenic plants with uidA and nptII marker genes. J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 74:105–109Hughes KW (1981) In vitro ecology: exogenous factors affecting growth and morphogenesis in plant culture systems. Environ Exp Bot 21:281–288Huxter TJ, Thorpe TA, Reid DM (1981) Shoot initiation in light- and darkgrown tobacco callus: the role of ethylene. Physiol Plant 53:319–326Kumar PP, Lakshmanan P, Thorpe TA (1998) Regulation of morphogenesis in plant tissue culture by ethylene. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Plant 34:94–103Lima JE, Benedito VA, Figueira A, Peres LEP (2009) Callus, shoot and hairy root formation in vitro as affected by the sensitivity to auxin and ethylene in tomato mutants. Plant Cell Rep 28:1169–1177Lu J, Vahala J, Pappinen A (2011) Involvement of ethylene in somatic embryogenesis in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 107:25–33Mohiuddin AKM, Chowdhury MKU, Abdullah ZC, Napis S (1997) Influence of silver nitrate (ethylene inhibitor) on cucumber in vitro shoot regeneration. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 51:75–78Moshkov IE, Novikova GV, Hall MA, George EF (2008) Plant Growth Regulators III: ethylene. In: George EF, Hall MA, Klerk G-JD (eds) Plant Propaga-tion by Tissue Culture, vol 1. 3rd edn. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 239–248Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15:473–497Osman MG, Khalafalla MM (2010) Promotion of in vitro shoot formation from shoot tip of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Omdurman) by ethylene inhibitors. Int J Curr Res 4:82–86Ptak A, El Tahchy A, Wyzgolik G, Henry M, Laurain-Mattar D (2010) Effects of ethylene on somatic embryogenesis and galantamine content in Leucojum aestivum L. cultures. Plant Cell Tiss Org Cult 102:61–67Pua EC, Sim GE, Chi GL, Kong LF (1996) Synergistic effects of ethylene inhibitors and putrescine on shoot regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Chinese radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. longipinnatus Bailey) in vitro. Plant Cell Rep 15:685–690Reid MS (1995) Ethylene in plant growth, development and senescence. In: Davies PJ (ed) Plant hormones: physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, 2nd edn. Kluwer Acad Publ, The Netherlands, pp 486–508Trujillo-Moya C, Gisbert C, Vilanova S, Nuez F (2011) Localization of QTLs for in vitro plant regeneration in tomato. BMC Plant Biol 11: art.140Tsuchisaka A, Theologis A (2004) Heterodimeric interactions among the 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase polypeptides encoded by the Arabidopsis gene family. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:2275–2280Vogel JP, Woeste KE, Theologis A, Kieber JJ (1998) Recessive and dominant mutations in the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACS5 of Arabidopsis confer cytokinin insensitivity and ethylene overproduction, respectively. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95:4766–477

    A comparison between padding and bath exhaustion to apply microcapsules onto cotton

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    The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0600-8[EN] The use of Microcapsules has increased in the textile sector. They have been applied as a possible means of introducing new products to textiles, such as insect repellents, antibiotics, skin moisturizers, etc. Microencapsulation technology has improved the fragrance durability on fabrics. Historically, the durability of the fragrance was poor, especially once the fabric had been washed. Microcapsules have been used in textiles for many years, however their previous characterization, adhesion behaviour and permanence on the fabrics are not well known. Nowadays the majority of textile industries are not able to characterize commercial products, or to study the process of adhering the microcapsule to the fibre's surface nor their functionality. Thus, the characterization of microencapsulated fabrics with different active core and the knowledge of the various application processes becomes a major challenge in the field of microcapsules use. There are various industrial processes to apply microcapsules, but determining optimal amounts of products, temperature, conditions and other process variables are an important challenge for the textile sector in order to achieve the highest depositions and retention of microcapsules. This work is focused on determining and quantifying presence fragrance microcapsules when applied onto fabrics by padding and by bath exhaustion and determining which method is the most effective. Consequently, diverse analysis techniques such as microscopy (SEM), spectroscopy FTIR and XPS have been used. We concluded that proposed techniques seem to be useful to compare fabrics treated with microcapsules. Results demonstrate that padding application gives better yields than bath exhaustion.Bonet Aracil, MA.; Monllor Pérez, P.; Capablanca Francés, L.; Gisbert Paya, J.; Díaz-García, P.; Montava Seguí, IJ. (2015). A comparison between padding and bath exhaustion to apply microcapsules onto cotton. Cellulose. 22(3):2117-2127. doi:10.1007/s10570-015-0600-8S21172127223Bonet M, Quijada C, Muñoz S, Cases F (2004) Characterization of ethylcellulose with different degrees of substitution (DS): a diffuse-reflectance infrared study. Can J Anal Sci Spectrosc 49(4):234–239Bonet M, Capablanca L, Monllor P, Díaz P, Montava I (2012) Studying bath exhaust as a method to apply microcapsules on fabrics. J Text Inst 103(6):629–635Buchert J, Pere LS, Johanson JM, Campbell J (2001) Analysis of surface chemistry of linen and cotton fabrics. Text Res J 71:626–629Fras L, Johanson LS, Stenius P, Laine P, Stana-Kleinscheck K, Ribitsch V (2005) Analysis of theoxidation of cellulosefibresbytitration and XPS. Colloids Surf A 260:101–108Gisbert G, Ibañez F, Bonet M, Monllor P, Díaz P, Montava I (2009) Increasing hydration of the epidermis by microcapsules in sterilized products. J Appl Polym Sci 113(4):2282–2286Hong K, Park S (1999) Melamine resin microcapsules containing fragant oil: synthesis and characterization. J Appl Polym Sci 58:128–131Jing HU, Zuobing X, Rujun Z, Shuangshuang M, Mingxi W, Zhen L (2011) Properties of aroma sustained-release cotton fabric with rose fragrance nanocapsule. Chin J Chem Eng 19(3):523–528Kokot S, Czarnik-Matusewicz C, Ozaki Y (2002) Two- dimensional correlation spectroscopy and principal component analysis studies of temperature-dependent IR spectra of cotton-cellulose. Biopolymers 67:456–469Kondo T, Sawatari C, Manley RJ, Gray DG (1994) Characterization of hydrogen bonding in cellulose synthetic polymer blend systems with regioselectively substituted methylcellulose. Macromolecules 27(1):210–215Miró Specos MM, Escobar G, Marino P, Puggia C, Defain Tesoriero MV, Hermida L (2010) Aroma finishing of cotton fabrics by means of microencapsulation techniques. J Ind Text 40(1):13–32Monllor P, Bonet M, Cases F (2007) Characterization of the behaviour of flavour microcapsules in cotton fabrics. Eur Polym J 43:2481–2490Monllor P, Bonet M, Sánchez L, Cases F (2009) Thermal behaviour of microencapsulated flavours when applied to cellulose fabrics. Text Res J 79(4):365–380Monllor P, Capablanca L, Gisbert J, Díaz P, Bonet M (2010) Improvement of microcapsule adhesion to fabrics. Text Res J 80(7):631–635Nelson G (1991) Microencapsulates in textile coloration and finishing. Rev Prog Color Relat Top 21:72–85Nelson G (2001) Microencapsulation in textile finishing. Rev Prog Color Relat Top 321:57–64Nelson G (2002) Application of microencapsulation in textiles. Int J Pharm 242:55–62Rodrigues SN, Fernandes I, Martins IM, Mata VG, Barreiro F, Rodrigues AE (2008) Microencapsulation of limonene for textiles application. Ind Eng Chem Res 47:4142–4147Rodrigues SN, Martins, IM, Fernades IP, Gomes PB, Mata VG, Barreiro MF, Rodrigues AE (2009) Scentfashion®: microencapsulated perfumes for textile application. Chem Eng J 149(1–3):463–472. ISSN:1385-8947Sócrates G (1997) In: Infrared characteristic group frequencies. Tables and charts, 2nd ednTopalovic T, Nierstrasz VA, Bautista L, Jocic D, Navarro A, Warmoeskerken MMCG (2007) XPS and contact angle study of cotton surface oxidation by catalytic bleaching. Colloids Surf A 296:76–85Wilson RC, Pfhol WF (2000) Study of crosslinking reactions of melamine/formaldehyde resin with hydroxyl functional polyester by generalized 2-D infrared spectroscopy. Vib Spectrosc 23:13–22Zhang H, Wang X (2009) Fabrication and performances of microencapsulated phase change materials based on n-octadecane core and resorcinol-modified melamine-formaldehyde shell. Colloids Surf A 332:129–13

    Oral chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics for the treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

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    BACKGROUND Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic enteropathy of unknown etiology, although microbiome dysbiosis, genetic susceptibility, and dietary and/or environmental factors are hypothesized to be involved in its pathogenesis. Since some of the current therapies are associated with severe side effects, novel therapeutic modalities are needed. A new oral supplement for long-term management of canine IBD containing chondroitin sulfate (CS) and prebiotics (resistant starch, β-glucans and mannaoligosaccharides) was developed to target intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, and restore normobiosis, without exhibiting any side effects. This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in dogs with IBD aims to evaluate the effects of 180 days administration of this supplement together with a hydrolyzed diet on clinical signs, intestinal histology, gut microbiota, and serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS Twenty-seven client-owned biopsy-confirmed IBD dogs were included in the study, switched to the same hydrolyzed diet and classified into one of two groups: supplement and placebo. Initially, there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05) for any of the studied parameters. Final data analysis (supplement: n = 9; placebo: n = 10) showed a significant decrease in canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) score in both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). After treatment, a significant decrease (1.53-fold; p < 0.01) in histologic score was seen only in the supplement group. When groups were compared, the supplement group showed significantly higher serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels after 60 days of treatment (p < 0.01), and the placebo group showed significantly reduced serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels after 120 days (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any time point for CIBDAI, WSAVA histologic score and fecal microbiota evaluated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). No side effects were reported in any group. CONCLUSIONS The combined administration of the supplement with hydrolyzed diet over 180 days was safe and induced improvements in selected serum biomarkers, possibly suggesting a reduction in disease activity. This study was likely underpowered, therefore larger studies are warranted in order to demonstrate a supplemental effect to dietary treatment of this supplement on intestinal histology and CIBDAI

    The effects of iron fortification on the gut microbiota in African children: a randomized controlled trial in Cote d'Ivoire.

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    BACKGROUND: Iron is essential for the growth and virulence of many pathogenic enterobacteria, whereas beneficial barrier bacteria, such as lactobacilli, do not require iron. Thus, increasing colonic iron could select gut microbiota for humans that are unfavorable to the host. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the effect of iron fortification on gut microbiota and gut inflammation in African children. DESIGN: In a 6-mo, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 6-14-y-old Ivorian children (n = 139) received iron-fortified biscuits, which contained 20 mg Fe/d, 4 times/wk as electrolytic iron or nonfortifoed biscuits. We measured changes in hemoglobin concentrations, inflammation, iron status, helminths, diarrhea, fecal calprotectin concentrations, and microbiota diversity and composition (n = 60) and the prevalence of selected enteropathogens. RESULTS: At baseline, there were greater numbers of fecal enterobacteria than of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (P < 0.02). Iron fortification was ineffective; there were no differences in iron status, anemia, or hookworm prevalence at 6 mo. The fecal microbiota was modified by iron fortification as shown by a significant increase in profile dissimilarity (P < 0.0001) in the iron group as compared with the control group. There was a significant increase in the number of enterobacteria (P < 0.005) and a decrease in lactobacilli (P < 0.0001) in the iron group after 6 mo. In the iron group, there was an increase in the mean fecal calprotectin concentration (P < 0.01), which is a marker of gut inflammation, that correlated with the increase in fecal enterobacteria (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Anemic African children carry an unfavorable ratio of fecal enterobacteria to bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which is increased by iron fortification. Thus, iron fortification in this population produces a potentially more pathogenic gut microbiota profile, and this profile is associated with increased gut inflammation. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN21782274

    Yolk utilization and growth during the early larval life of the Silver Perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell, 1838)

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    The aim of this research was to investigate the yolk sac and oil globule utilization by silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) larvae produced from domesticated broodfish. The larvae were kept unfed in the holding tank, sampled, and investigated by image analysis software to determine various characteristics, such as the diameters of ova, water-hardened eggs, yolk-sac, oil globules, and the total length of larvae. The research illustrated that, with the exception of oil globule diameter, all other morphometric parameters were significantly lower (P &lt; 0.05) when compared to the larvae from the wild broodfish. The yolk sac was completely absorbed at 96 h post-hatching (hph) and the oil globule was visible until 240 hph. The larvae exhibited predatory movements and tried to catch rotifer at 4 days post hatching (dph). However, the onset of feeding took place at 5 dph, while 100% of feeding occurred at 6 dph. During the first 96 h (h), larvae grew significantly faster than the next 144 h. Larvae encountered low mortalities (&lt;10%) during the first 96 hph, before increasing significantly in the next 24 h and no unfed larvae survived post 240 h. The results also suggested that the exogenous feed should be available at 96 hph, which is well after the yolk sac is completely depleted. In addition, although most of eggs and larval performance from domesticated broodfish were inferior compared to the wild one, it has larger oil globule that could make longer of its mixed feeding period and therefore could have better in viability
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