Partial dietary fish meal replacement with cotton seed meal and supplementation with exogenous protease alters growth, feed performance, hematological indices and associated gene expression markers (GH, IGF-I) for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of different ratios of fish meal (FM): cotton seed meal (CSM) without or with inclusion of exogenous protease in diets on growth performance, hematology, digestibility and selected gene expression markers (GH and I (IGF-I) of juvenile Nile tilapia. The experimental diets were categorized into three groups; the first group CSM1 which contained fish meal protein: cotton seed meal protein (FM: CSM = 2:1), the second group CSM2 which contained FM: CSM = 1:1 and the third one CSM3 contained FM: CSM = 1:2 on protein content based. All groups were supplemented with exogenous protease at 0 and 2500 U kg−1 diet, respectively. All diets were fed to fish (initial body weight 11.62 ± 0.03 g fish−1) in triplicate aquaria twice daily. The higher weight gain (WG), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and best feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded by fish fed CSM1 and CSM2 and supplemented with 2500 U protease/kg diet. The highest apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein, crude lipid and digestible energy, and apparent availability coefficient of essential amino acids were obtained by fish receiving CSM1 and CSM2 supplemented with protease (2500 U protease kg−1 diet). The highest mean values of Hb, Htc and RBCs were recorded in fish fed CSM1 and CSM2 supplemented with protease enzyme (2500 U protease kg−1 diet). Serum of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities were improved due to dietary protease (2500 U protease kg−1 diet) supplementation, also, fish received the diets supplemented with protease 2500 U kg−1 diet generally had higher total protein, albumin, calcium and phosphorus than those fed diets without supplement. The highest growth hormone (GH) gene expression in brain and liver of tilapia were obtained in the group fed CSM3 and un-supplemented with protease enzyme followed by CSM2 (un-supplemented). On the other hand, tilapia fed CSM1 and CSM2 supplemented with protease enzyme showed the highest values of gene expression of insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I) in brain and liver of tilapia compared to other groups. Results above showed that supplementation of protease can improve growth, nutrient assimilation, and hematology and alter gene expression of GH and IGF-I of Nile tilapia

Assessment of a high protein distillers dried grain (HP-DDG) augmented with phytase in diets for European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax fingerlings on growth performance, haematological status, immune response and related gut and liver histology

Inclusion of high levels of plant protein ingredients in fish feeds induces the presence of undesirable compounds such as Anti-Nutritional Factors, including non-starch polysaccharides and phytates. The present study evaluated the effect of partial replacement of dietary soybean meal by a high protein distillers dried grains (HP-DDG) a co-product of corn based ethanol production. We evaluated HP-DDG in experimental diets with a supplemented commercial phytase on growth performance, physiological parameters and histological changes of the intestine and liver of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax fingerlings. The experiment was conducted for six weeks. A total of 240 D. labrax fingerlings was randomly divided to four experimental treatments (each in triplicates groups) and fed to apparent satiation six days per week for a six weeks’ period. Four dietary treatments: containing 0, 30, 40 and 50% HP-DDG supplemented with enzyme phytase 0.5g kg-1 diet respectively, were tested. The results showed that growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of sea bass was significantly higher (P≤0.05) with increasing levels of HP-DDG-and phytase supplementation. Superior phosphorous utilization was also observed with respect to whole body retention for each incremental level of HP-DDG inclusion. Hematology and serum biochemistry (hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and humoral immune parameters including total protein, globulin, cholesterol, lysozyme activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were improved (P≤0.05) in fish fed diets with increased levels of HP-DDG and supplemented phytase. The findings suggest that the use of HP-DDG supplemented with phytase in sea bass diets enhanced growth, physiological and immunological responses, and evidenced a cost benefit advantage for European sea bass production compared to the use of a diet without either HP-DDG or phytase incorporation

Detector Description and Performance for the First Coincidence Observations between LIGO and GEO

For 17 days in August and September 2002, the LIGO and GEO interferometer gravitational wave detectors were operated in coincidence to produce their first data for scientific analysis. Although the detectors were still far from their design sensitivity levels, the data can be used to place better upper limits on the flux of gravitational waves incident on the earth than previous direct measurements. This paper describes the instruments and the data in some detail, as a companion to analysis papers based on the first data.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures 17 Sept 03: author list amended, minor editorial change

Transition to smart grids: A psychological perspective

A transition to smart grids requires a wide range of changes in household energy behaviour. In this chapter we discuss four key issues important for understanding and promoting behaviour in smart grids. First, we need to identify which behaviour needs to be changed. A transition to smart grids involves changes in a wide range of energy behaviours, including the adoption of sustainable energy resources, energy-efficient technologies, and automated control technology; investments in energy efficiency measures in buildings such as insulation; and user behaviour. Second, we need to know which factors influence behaviour in smart grids. We discuss the role of motivations and contextual factors. Third, it is important to test effects of interventions aimed to promote smart energy behaviours. Interventions can be aimed at changing the actual costs and benefits of behaviour, or at changing people’s perceptions and evaluations of different costs and benefits of behavioural options. Fourth, we need to understand which factors influence the acceptability of energy policies and energy systems changes aimed to promote smart grids. In this chapter we address important findings from psychological studies on these topics

Fontes protéicas vegetais na alimentação da carpa húngara Plant protein sources on common carp feeding

A substituição parcial da farinha de carne suína por farelos vegetais em dietas para juvenis de carpa húngara (Cyprinus carpio) foi avaliada em cinco dietas experimentais: um controle (farinha de carne suína (FCS) como fonte protéica) e quatro dietas vegetais: farelo de soja (FS), farelo de canola (FC), farelo de girassol (FG) ou farelo de linhaça (FL), substituindo 50% da proteína proveniente da FCS. 195 juvenis (43,4&plusmn;0,4g) foram alimentados duas vezes ao dia (9 e 15 horas) durante 71 dias. Ao final do experimento, maior peso (205,69g), ganho em peso (2,29g dia-1), taxa de crescimento específico (2,2% dia-1) e conversão alimentar (1,74) foram obtidos nas dietas com FCS, seguido dos tratamentos FC e FS que não diferiram entre si. Os peixes alimentados com FCS, FG e FS apresentaram maior gordura corporal. A dieta FL apresentou piores resultados de desempenho, coeficiente de retenção protéica, deposição de proteína e gordura corporal e no filé. Pode-se concluir que a dieta à base de farinha de carne suína proporciona maior crescimento e deposição de proteína em juvenis de carpa húngara, comparada às dietas com farelos vegetais; os parâmetros de carcaça (rendimentos e índices digestivos) não são afetados pelas fontes protéicas da dieta.<br>This study was conducted to evaluate the partial replacement of porcine meat meal by plant-protein meals in diets for common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Five experimental diets were evaluated: control (FCS), only porcine meat meal as protein source, and four plant-based diets: soybean meal (FS), canola meal (FC), sunflower meal (FG) or linseed meal (FL) replacing 50% of protein from porcine meat meal. Juveniles (195, 43.4&plusmn;0.4g) were fed twice daily (9:00 am and 03:00pm) for 71 days. At the end of the trial, the best weight (205,69g), weight gain (2,29g day-1), specific growth rate (2,2% day-1) and food conversion ratio (1,74) were obtained in FCS, followed by FC and FS, that did not differ among each other. Fish fed FCS, FG and FS showed higher body fat. The FL diet had the worst performance, protein retention coefficient, protein and fat deposition in whole body and fillet. It was concluded that a diet based on porcine meat meal provides higher growth and protein deposition in common carp juveniles, compared to diets with plant-protein meals; carcass parameters (carcass and fillet yield and digestive indices) are not affected by the dietary protein sources