Growth performance, carcass composition, and immunophysiological indices in juvenile great sturgeon (Huso huso) fed on commercial prebiotic, Immunoster

Growth performance, carcass composition, and immunophysiological indices in juvenile great sturgeon (Huso huso) fed on commercial prebiotic Immunoster (IS) were investigated. After a four-week acclimatization period, 270 great sturgeon juveniles weighing 95.68 ± 10.05 g were randomly distributed into 9 fiberglass tanks in three replicates and kept at a density of 30 fish per tank for a period of 8 weeks at water temperature 20.55 ± 5.11ºC and dissolved oxygen 6.73 ± 0.35 mg L^-1. IS was added at two levels of 1% and 3% to the basal diet in place of cellulose. At the end of the trial, blood sampling and carcass analysis were conducted. Weight, length, body weight increase (BWI), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and condition factor (CF) were significantly affected by IS 3% compared with IS 1% and the control (P<0.05). There was significant difference (P<0.05) in crude protein of carcass between the experimental groups. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) showed significantly higher levels in experimental treatments compared with the control (P<0.05). Immunoglobulin M (IgM) level and lysozyme activity in IS 1% group were higher than the control group. It can be concluded that IS can enhance growth performance and improve some immunophysiological indices of great sturgeon

Entrepreneurship development; a step towards achieving the economic and social goals of fisheries: (Explanation and ranking of effective environmental factors using fuzzy Delphi and FAHP approach)

The purpose of the present research was to identify and rank the effective environmental (background) indices on OE process in Mazandaran Fisheries Organization. In terms of data collection, the method used in this study was the descriptive-survey method and in terms of research purposes, it was an applied research. Statistical population included experts and leading experts of Mazandaran fisheries organization in 2014. After literature review, the effective environmental (background) indices on OE were identified. Data were collected using Delphi and paired comparisons questionnaires, and analyzed using fuzzy Delphi method and FAHP. The results showed that the effective environmental (background) indices on OE, in order of priority, were the economic environments, legal-political environment, social-cultural environment, technological environment, administrative environment and international environment

The effects of glucan on hematological parameters, immune response and intestinal microbiota of Rutilus frisii kutum fry

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary glucan on some haematological parameters, immune response and intestinal microbiota of Rutilus frisii kutum. In the present study, various levels of ingredient so called Hoplit (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%) containing glucan was added to a basal formulated diet. Twenty and five kutum fry with a mean (±SD) weight of 1.15±0.06g were stocked in each experimental tank (100 l capacity) filled with 80 liter of water. Fish were fed on experimental diet for 56 days and biometry was performed every 15 days. At the end of the trial blood samples were collected for measurement of haematological parameters including: Red and white blood cells count, differential count of white blood cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin, and innate immune factors (Immunoglobulin and Lysozyme). Fries in 1.5% treatment had highest serum immunoglobins (Ig) and eosinophil, although when compared with control but with no significant differences. Highest MCHC, hematocrit and hemoglobin were observed in the 0.5 and 1% treatments and the highest MCV and red blood cell count were in 0.5 percent treatment. The highest white blood cells count and neutrophils was observed in 2% treatment. The highest and lowest levels of lysozyme activity were observed in 1% and control treatments, respectively. Evaluation of the total bacteria and LAB counts revealed significant increase in 0.5% treatment. According to these results administration of dietary glucan can be considered for stimulation of innate immune response of white fish fry

The effect of prebiotic “Immunoster” on growth indices, survival rate, density of blood cells and body composition of Caspian Sea mahi sefid (Rutilus frisii kutum) fingerlings

In order to effect of prebiotic Immunoster was performed the experiment in period of 8 weeks in 0, 2, 4 percent levels on growth, survival, blood cells count and body compositions of mahi sefid fingerlings with initial weight of 0.35±0.02gr. The experiment was performed with use of completely accidental design in one control group and two treatments groups each with 3 replicates and with 150 kutum fingerlings in each tank. Feeding was varied 15-20% of biomass. At the end of experiment, however there was no significant difference in 2 and 4 percent level of Immunoster in camparing with control group (P>0.05), but mahi sefid fingerlings fed by Immunoster containing diet showed slightly better growth function. Survival rate didn’t have significant difference between treatments. The amount of red blood cells (R.B.Cs) and the amount of white blood cells (W.B.Cs) in one cubic millimeter of blood showed significant difference between control and fingerlings fed with 2 and 4 percents levels of Immunoster (P≤0.01). As 2 percent level of Immunoster had highest of R.B.Cs and W.B.Cs in compare with control group. Also there were significant difference between control and experimental groups the view of protein, fiber and carbohydrate of carcass (P≤0.05)

Investigation of genetic population of Neogobius gorlap in southern Caspian Sea using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity of Neogobios gorlap population was examined on 133 samples from regions in southern parts of the Caspian Sea (Golestan 28 samples, Mazandaran 53 samples and Guilan 52 samples). Genomic DNA was extracted from fin tissue by phenol-chlorophorm method. PCR was performed using 6 microsatellite primers. The PCR products of samples were accompanied with standard marker (50 by ladder). To measure fragment size, samples were run on a 6% polyacrylamid gel. Allele count and frequency, the effective and real allele, expected heterozygosity and observed heterozygosity, genetic diversity; Shannon Information Index, genetic identity and genetic distance, Fst, Rst, gene flow and Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium based on Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) were calculated using the Gene Alex software. All studied loci were polymorph. The mean observed and effective allele number was 11.44 and 7.28 respectively. Also, the maximum observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.964 and 0.932 respectively. Specimens from all regions (with the exception of locus NG71 and NG111 in Golestan region) were not in Hardy-Weinberg Equibrium in all of the loci (P<0.05). The maximum F5t (0.06) was observed between Golestan and Guilan regions (Nrn 1.40). The minimum Fist (0.03) was observed between Mazandaran and Guilan (Nm=3.43). The highest genetic distance (0.71) and the lowest genetic distance (0.49) was observed between specimens from Guilan and Golestan regions. Based on Fst results, we found that there is a significant genetic divergence between some samples. Therefore, we suggest three genetic groups of Neogobios gorlap for the southern part of the Caspian Sea

Suppressed recombination and unique candidate genes in the divergent haplotype encoding Fhb1, a major Fusarium head blight resistance locus in wheat

Fhb1 is a prominent Fusarium head blight resistance locus of wheat, which has been successfully introgressed in adapted breeding material, where it confers a significant increase in overall resistance to the causal pathogen Fusarium graminearum and the fungal virulence factor and mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. The Fhb1 region has been resolved for the susceptible wheat reference genotype Chinese Spring, yet the causal gene itself has not been identified in resistant cultivars. Here, we report the establishment of a 1 Mb contig embracing Fhb1 in the donor line CM-82036. Sequencing revealed that the region of Fhb1 deviates from the Chinese Spring reference in DNA size and gene content, which explains the repressed recombination at the locus in the performed fine mapping. Differences in genes expression between near-isogenic lines segregating for Fhb1 challenged with F. graminearum or treated with mock were investigated in a time-course experiment by RNA sequencing. Several candidate genes were identified, including a pathogen-responsive GDSL lipase absent in susceptible lines. The sequence of the Fhb1 region, the resulting list of candidate genes, and near-diagnostic KASP markers for Fhb1 constitute a valuable resource for breeding and further studies aiming to identify the gene(s) responsible for F. graminearum and deoxynivalenol resistance.(VLID)141383

Changes of solar cell parameters during damp-heat exposure

The degradation of PV modules during damp-heat exposure is investigated. Power degradation is analysed in dependence of temperature and humidity during exposure. The module’s equivalent circuit parameters are calculated from I-V characteristics measured during ageing. A dose function is developed and degradations of power as well as equivalent circuit parameters can be analysed against the dose, which provides a better understanding of the module ageing behaviour. EL images of modules before and after ageing support the changes of solar cell parameters

Results of the Sophia module intercomparison part-1: stc, low irradiance conditions and temperature coefficients measurements of C-Si technologies

The results of a measurement intercomparison between eleven European laboratories measuring PV energy relevant parameters are reported. The purpose of the round-robin was to assess the uncertainty analyses of the participating laboratories on c-Si modules and to establish a baseline for the following thin-film round-robin. Alongside the STC measurements, low irradiance conditions (200W/m2) and temperature coefficients measurements were performed. The largest measurement deviation from the median at STC was for HIT modules from -3.6% to +2.7% in PMAX, but in agreement with the stated uncertainties of the participants. This was not the case for low irradiance conditions and temperature coefficients measurements with some partners underestimating their uncertainties. Larger deviations from the median from -5% to +3% in PMAX at low irradiance conditions and -6.6% to +18.3% for the PMAX temperature coefficient were observed. The main sources of uncertainties contributing to the spread in measurements were the RC calibration, mismatch factor and capacitive effects at STC and low irradiance conditions as well as the additional light inhomogeneity for the latter. The uncertainty in the junction temperature and the temperature deviation across the module were the major contributors for temperature coefficients measurements

Uncertainty in energy yield estimation based on C-Si module roundrobin results.

Results of the European FP7 Sophia project roundrobin of c-Si module power measurements at STC and low irradiance and temperature coefficients were used to calculate annual energy yield at four sites. The deviation in the estimates solely due to the different measurement results is reported, neglecting the uncertainty in the meteorological data and losses unrelated to the performed measurements. While minimising the deviation in Pmax measurements remains the key challenge, the low irradiance and temperature coefficient contributions are shown to be significant. Propagating the measurement deviation in c-Si module measurements would suggest that expanded uncertainty in energy yield due to module characterization alone can be as high as ±3-4%

A European proficiency test on thin film tandem photovoltaic devices

A round robin proficiency test RR PT on thin film multi junction MJ photovoltaic PV cells was run between 13 laboratories within the European project CHEETAH. Five encapsulated PV cells were circulated to participants for being tested at Standard Test Conditions STC . Three cells were a Si amp; 956;c Si tandem PV devices, each of which had a different short circuit current ratio between the top junction and the bottom one; the remaining two cells were single junction PV devices made with material representative of the individual junctions in the MJ cells. The RR PT s main purpose was to assess the capability of the participating laboratories, in terms of employed facilities and procedures, to test MJ PV devices. Therefore, participant