Interaction of dietary Pediococcus acidilactici and folic acid on growth performance, haematological parameters and non-specific immune response of finger barbel, Acipenser nudiventris

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Pediococcus acidilactici and folic acid (FA) and their combinations on growth performance, haematological parameters and non-specific immune response of Acipenser nudiventris. 210 individuals (initial body weight: 12.84± 1.53g) were fed seven practical diets: the basal diet as the control diet was supplemented with two levels of P. acidilactici (2 and 3 g per kg diet), FA (2 and 4 mg per kg diet) and their combinations. The results showed that the group fed a combined diet of P. acidilactici and FA (4 mg FA+3 g P. acidilactici per kg diet) showed significant increase in body weight increase (BWI), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and condition factor (CF). However, experimental diets had no significant effects on survival rate. Both haematological indices and leucocyte counts were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by dietary P. acidilactici and FA and their combinations. In the group fed 4 mg FA+3 g P. acidilactici, lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulin (Ig) levels significantly increased compared to those fed other diets (p<0.05). Moreover, the fish fed diets supplemented with 2 mg FA+ 3 g P. acidilactici per kg diet had considerably higher immunoglobulin (IgM) level (p<0.05). Under the experimental conditions, dietary P. acidilactici and FA had a synergistic effect on enhancing growth performance and immunity of A. nudiventris

Creating a sperm bank from sturgeon brood stocks in the south Caspian Sea

Sturgeon stocks are drastically decreasing in Caspian Sea during recent decades. This project has been proposed to collect the excess sperm of Caspian Sea Southern part sturgeon breeders, to cryopreserve and hold them for further use. During two spawning seasons (2006-2007), sperm quality and quantity analysis were conducted on 34 different male sturgeons of which 12 Persian sturgeon, 4 stellate sturgeon, 1 beluga and 1 ship sturgeon with better quality were chosen to cryopreserve. After dilution of fresh sperm with sturgeon sperm diluent (115 mM Tris, 23.4 mM sucrose and 15% DMSO) at the ratio of 1:1, the 0.5 ml straws were filled using special filling and sealing apparatus and frozen with a multi step freezing rate. To access the further quality and fertilization test, samples were thawed at 40 °C for 20 seconds. During the project performance, 1010 ml of Persian sturgeon sperm , 110 ml of ship sturgeon sperm , 90 ml of stellate and 80 ml of beluga sperm were cryopreserved. The reduction of frozen-thawed sperm motility in comparison with fresh samples showed 10-52.3 % decrease, but there was not any significant differences between samples after 7 months preservation in liquid Nitrogen (P < 0.005). River caught Persian sturgeon samples showed higher sperm density in comparison with nonriverine breeders (P < 0.05). Data showed that stellate sturgeon sperm showed better resistance to freezing condition in comparison with Persian sturgeon spermatozoa. Fertilization tests (4 hours after fertilization) showed 27.4% and 58.2% fertilization rate in frozen-thawed stellate and Persian sturgeon spermatozoa, respectively

Factors associated with suicidal attempts in Iran: A systematic review

Context: Suicide prevention is a health service priority. Some surveys have assessed suicidal behaviors and potential risk factors. Objectives: The current paper aimed to gather information about etiology of suicide attempts in Iran. Data Sources: Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc as well as gray literature were searched. Study Selection: By electronic and gray literature search, 128 articles were enrolled in this paper. Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc were searched for electronic search. After reading the abstracts, 84 studies were excluded and full texts of 44 articles were reviewed critically. Data Extraction: Pubmed, ISI web of science, PsychInfo, IranPsych, IranMedex, IranDoc as well as gray literature were searched to find any study about etiologic factors of suicide attempt in Iran. Results: Depressive disorder was the most common diagnosis in suicide attempters that is 45 of the evaluated cases had depression. One study that had used Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI) found that Histrionics in females and Schizophrenia and Paranoia in males were significantly influential. Family conflicts with 50.7 and conflict with parents with 44 were two effective psychosocial factors in suicidal attempts. In around one fourth (28.7) of the cases, conflict with spouse was the main etiologic factor. Conclusions: According to the methodological limitations, outcomes should be generalized cautiously. Further studies will help to plan preventive strategies for suicidal attempts; therefore, continued researches should be conducted to fill the data gaps. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

A survey on the effect of Cochlodinium.sp bloom on shrimp culture complexes and hatcheries activities in Bushehr Province

The aims of this project was to inform and aware about the red tide condition before entering the algal bloomer in water resources to the hatcheries and farmed shrimp complexes in Bushehr province coastal. Field investigation and sampling have been carried out in the southern of the input water channels of Mond, Delvar and Helleh farmed shrimp complexes, which are located along the coastal of Bushehr Province, from April to December 2011 .The physic-chemical parameters such as pH, salinity and water temperature and also meteorological conditions were measured and recorded on the field. The water sampling has been lunched for determination of nutrients and chlorophyll - a, phyto- and zoo- planktons. No Cochlodinium.sp outbreaks have been detected in the studied area, during the study. The only bloom which reported by a fisherman, was outbreak in offshore of Bushehr province in Khoure Khan on 13th September 2011. The sample which transferred to the Iranian National Shrimp Research Institute was included Alexandrium.sp and its density was 2 million cells per liter. The identified phytoplanktons were belonged to three order of Bacillariophyceae (52.6%) with average density of 10778 cells per liter, Dinophyceae (37.7%) with density of 7731 cells per liter and Cyanophyceae (9.7%) with density of 1980 cells. 12 genera belonged to Dinophyceae , 25 genera of Bacillariophyceae and two genera of Cyanophyceae were observed during the study. The highest density of phytoplankton was recorded in Helleh station by 18374 cells per liter. The maximum density of phytoplankton was at Delvar station by 141120 cells per liter in December. The highest density of the phytoplanktons was belonged to Dinophyceae by 126000 by cells per liter of which the Alexandrium.sp had the density of 124500 cells per liter in August 2011. From the Dinophyceae the Alexandrium.sp with mean density of 20345 cells per liter, Ornithocercus 920 cells and Prorocentrum.sp 820 cells were the predominant species. The identified Zooplankton in were belonged to 8 branches and 19 groups. The highest density of zooplankton was recorded in Helleh station by 1194 no. per liter. Nauplii were the dominant zooplankton groups with an average density of 136.4 no. per liter, Tintinnids 98.7, Cyclopoida 60.8, Calanoida 35.7 and Harpacticoids 14.5 no. per liter . The average of water and air temperature was recorded 29.4 °C and 28.3 °C, respectively. Average of salinity was 41.2 and pH was 8.46. The average of depth in all stations was 5.7 m. The mean concentrations of silicate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and total phosphate were 1.99, 0.03, 0.009, 0.14 0.15 ppm, respectively and the average of chlorophyll - a was 0.94 mg.m-3

Gynogenesis in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and beluga (Huso huso)

The objective of the present study was to determine the possible production of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and Beluga (Huso huso) gynogen/triploids and also to determine the most appropriate type of thermal shock and the duration of induced shock after fertilization. Persian sturgeon and Beluga spawners were collected from Guilan's sturgeon catch stations and transported to the Shahid Beheshti sturgeon hatchery for artificial breeding and restocking programs. Ovulated eggs and sperms were collected based on common procedures in hatcheries. In order to separate the seminal fluids and dilute the milts, sperms were centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 20 min. and seminal fluids stored in refrigerator for further use. Sperm motility was investigated. In order to determine the best duration for radiation, the milt was diluted (1:9) with immobilizing solution. Samples of diluted milt were placed for UV irradiation (UV lamp model UVG-54, 254 nm, made by UVP America) for 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.45, 2, to 5 min. The motility of radiated sperms and controls were examined under the light microscope and the motility curve was drawn. For application of thermal shock two types of heat shock (32, 34 and 37°C) and cold shock (0±1°C) were used for duration of 2.5 and 60 min respectively. Both thermal shock were applied at 12, 15, 18 min after fertilization. Four experimental groups were designed including; normal eggs as control group and sperms without UV thermal shock), gynogenesis (Sperm irradiated with UV and thermal shock were applied), triploid (thermal shock without radiation by UV on sperm) and haploid group (without thermal shock but using irradiated sperm for fertilization). Verification of the success of treatments was assessed using genetic analysis on sturgeon larvae and fingerlings. In triploids the total surface area, volume of cells and nucleus as well as chromosome number were determined. To identify a gynogenetic larva, microsatellite markers were used to analysis specific loci by using primers designed for lake sturgeon. The results were analyzed using SPSS, Excell software. To determine the significant levels between various parameters and comparison between controls and various treatments, one way of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used. Whenever the significant level was observed to determine its level a Duncan test were examined. Results of present study showed that the best duration for UV radiation on sperms of Beluga was 105-110 seconds. Average fertilization rate for control Beluga was 51%, while in heat shock group it was 2-5 % and in cold shock it was 44.6%. There was a significant difference in fertilization rate in cold shock group compared to heat shock group (P<0.05), however no difference was observed between 32 and 34°C treatments. The average survival rate of larvae in control group was 51%, while in heat shock treatment (32 and 34°C) it was very low close to zero. However in cold shock treatment the results was better and hatching percentage of larvae was between 30 -35%. Triploid treatment showed better results than gynogenesis group. A minimum triploid larvae obtained from heat shock was zero but using cold shock, the maximum number of 170 specimen was harvested. There was no significant difference in the number of larvae obtained between 32 and 34° C treatments (P<0.05). Although some difference was observed on large and small axes, surface areas and volume of red blood cells but no significant differences were observed between control and triploid groups (P 0.05). In the meantime, the chromosome number in triploid beluga was (3N=177±3) as compared to diploid 2N= 118±3, which indicated an extra set of chromosome (n=60) in triploid fish. Totally 26.6% of investigated fish was triploids. Microsatellite molecular markers clearly differentiate gynogenetic fish on the bases of allele inheritance of male and female parents, and were proven that this technique can clearly identify allelic inheritance of parents to offspring. In Persian sturgeon in compare to beluga a different results were observed. Heat shock (37°C) not present any positive results therefore has no application in induce gynogenesis on this species, also no significant difference was observed between 32 and 34°C treatment. Cold shock showed better results, especially when duration of UV radiation was adjusted to 105 seconds. Molecular analysis using microsatellite marker positively proved the gynogenetic offspring by counting the allelic inheritance. However Persian sturgeon as a tetraploid species (2N=240) has its difficulty on scoring the banding patterns. We highly recommend disomic primers application for allelic inheritance on gynogene Persian sturgeon

Asymptotic behavior of w in general quintom model

For the quintom models with arbitrary potential $V=V(\phi,\sigma)$, the asymptotic value of equation of state parameter w is obtained by a new method. In this method, w of stable attractors are calculated by using the ratio (d ln V)/(d ln a) in asymptotic region. All the known results, have been obtained by other methods, are reproduced by this method as specific examples.Comment: 8 pages, one example is added, accepted for publication in Gen. Rel. Gra

Biotechnique of rearing beluga (H.huso) using brackishwater of the Caspian Sea (different densities and water flow)

This study was conducted at the Applied Research Station for Sturgeon Culture (Chaboksar site) and was supported by the Iranian Fisheries Research Organization in order to obtain the bio technique for Huso huso culture in brackish water from the Caspian Sea. The effects of stocking density and water flow at the inlet of brackish water was studied for a period of 4 years using 4 weight classes and the results obtained were compared with those obtained from the culture of H. huso in freshwater. Huso huso in four weight classes of 3-20 g, 20-200 g, 325-1000 g and 1000-3000 g were stocked at stocking densities between 350 g to 15 kg m^-2. The effect of water flow in rearing tanks was studied in weight classes 30- 2700 g. In the weight class 3-20 g, highest growth was recorded in H. huso stocked at 1000 g m^-2 in brackish water which was significantly higher (P<0.5) than that recorded in freshwater suggesting the advantage of rearing H. huso in brackish water at improved density of 1000 g m^-2. Results obtained from total length in juvenile H. husoconform to these results. It may therefore be concluded that in the weight class 3-20 g, stocking density of 1000 g m^-2 is not a limiting factor on growth in juvenile H. huso. Low specific growth rate (SGR) was reported with a stocking density of 1500 g m^-2 in freshwater which was not significantly different from that in brackish water. Hence rearing juvenile H. huso in brackish water at high densities (1500 g m^-2) is preferred to rearing in freshwater as H. huso is more capable of adapting to stressful conditions of stocking density in brackish water. Similar trends were observed for percentage body weight increase (BWI%) showing the advantage of using a stocking density of 1000 g m^-2 in brackish water. Production in different groups showed variations depending on stocking density biomass. Condition factor was low when H. huso was reared in freshwater at a stocking density of 1500 g m^-2. Similarly CVw was low in the experimental group reared at a density of 500 g m-2 in brackish water, while CVtl in the group reared at 1500 g m^-2 in brackish water was low. The calculated value for CVw/tl was low with stocking density of 500 g m^-2 in brackish water and freshwater. Final body weight and growth indices in the 20-200 g weight class in the experimental group using 1000 g m^-2 in brackish water were higher than that in freshwater. Similarly growth indices and final body weight of juvenile H. huso at 2000 and 1500 g m^-2 stocking densities were higher than the values obtained with similar stocking densities in freshwater. SGR and growth rate (GR) of H. huso at stocking density of 1500 g m^-2 was significantly higher in brackish water than that in freshwater. Comparison of results obtained from weight and total length in weight classes 325-560 g showed that until they reach a weight of 560 g, stocking density of 1.3 kg m^-2 in brackish water is preferred to the densities 2.6, 3.9 and 5.2 kg m^-2. Comparison of results indicate that in the weight class 325-560 g, better results are obtained when juvenile H. huso are reared in brackish water at densities of 1.3, 2.6 and 3.9 kg m^-2 as compared to that obtained from the use similar densities in freshwater. Statistical analysis of SGR indicates that stocking densities up to 2.6 kg m^-2 do not limit growth. Also it was also evident from the analyses of SGR and FCR that stocking density of 5.2 kg m^-2 is not considered suitable for juvenile H. huso in the weight class 325-560 g. On the basis of results obtained for SGR, GR and FCR it maybe concluded that up to the 760 g weight class, stocking densities of 1.3 and 2.6 kg m^-2 were statistically better than other densities studied. Moreover rearing juvenile H. huso at these stocking densities in brackish water also proved better than that in freshwater. In the weight class 650-1000 g, stocking fish at densities of 2.6 -10 kg m^-2 in brackish water did not seem to affect final body weight, total length and SGR. At stocking densities 5.1 and 7 kg m^-2, GR for juvenile H. huso in brackish water were significantly higher than that obtained in freshwater using the same stocking densities. Similarly FCR and FE values obtained for juvenile H. huso in this weight class in brackish water were significantly better (P<0.05) than those obtained in freshwater. SGR values obtained at stocking densities 7 and 10 kg m^-2 support these findings. Based on body weight, total length and GR values it may be concluded that stocking density of 10 kg m^-2 does not restrict growth in juvenile H. huso until they reach a body weight of 1000 g. Similarly a stocking density of 7.5 kg m^-2 does not limit growth in juvenile H. huso until they reached a body weight of 1150 g and stocking densities of 5.1 kg m^-2 and 2.6 kg m^-2 do not limit growth in juvenile H. huso until they reach body weights of 1300 and 1500 g, respectively. Rearing H. huso in these weight classes at different stocking densities of 10, 7.5 and 5.1 kg m^-2 in brackish water was significantly better than rearing them in freshwater. Also based on feeding indices (FCR, FE, SGR and GR) in these weight classes, stocking densities of 2.6 and 5.1 kg m^-2 in brackish water were significantly more suitable than other stocking densities studied in the same culture medium. Results obtained from rearing juvenile H. huso at stocking densities of 2.6, 5.1 and 7.5 kg m^-2 in brackish water was significantly better than that obtained in freshwater at the same stocking densities. Based on growth (SGR, BWI) and feeding (FE) indices in the weight class 900-3000 g it is evident that experimental group 5 (with stocking density of 10 kg m^-2 , water flow of 3 L sec^-1) was significantly better (P<0.05) than all other groups studied. It may also be concluded from the results obtained by studying stocking densities and water flow that stocking density of 10 kg m^-2 used for rearing juvenile H. huso in the weight class 900 g until they reach a weight of 3000 g is not a limiting factor on their growth. It was also observed that juvenile H. huso are highly capable of adapting to their environment. The one-way water supply and daily water exchange with different water flow rates ranging from 1 to 6 L sec^-1 yielded similar results. It was clearly evident that a water flow rate of 0.5 L sec^-1 in brackish water and freshwater resulted in significantly lower growth in juvenile H. huso. Highest growth was reported in brackish water with a flow rate of 1.5 and 3 L sec-1. In freshwater, highest growth was recorded with flow rates of 3 L sec^-1. Higher water flow rates improved growth indices in H. huso. Improved condition factor and variable coefficients of weight and total length were observed in experimental groups in brackish water and freshwater, except in the experimental group with a flow rate of 0.5 L sec^-1 in freshwater. In the weight class 530-2000 g, water flow rate of 3 L sec-1 produced higher final weight in juvenile H. huso in freshwater as compared to that in brackish water. Similar results were obtained in freshwater and brackish water with water flow rate of 1.5 L sec^-1. Data on carcass composition of farmed H. huso indicated no significant effect of freshwater and brackish water on protein and lipid levels. In both rearing media, diets were formulated to meet the dietary requirements of H.huso and hence carcass composition conformed to the quality of diets

Study and evaluation of economical and hygienic effects of aflatoxin B1 in cultured Huso huso

In the present study, the impacts of various concentrations of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on Beluga, Huso huso, under controlled conditions were investigated. Belugas (120±10 g) were fed diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppb AFB1/kg of diet for 3 months. Results showed that various levels of AFB1 do not significantly affect the specific growth ratio (SGR) (p< 0.05) of fish in different treatments. However, weight gain and food conversion ratio (FCR) varied significantly (p< 0.05 between control and treatments with diets contaminated with 75 and 100ppb AFB1/kg after 90 days). The increase in level of AFB1 did not affect the percent of survival rate (SR) and no mortality was observed in treatments (SR=100%). Various levels of AFB1 under experimental conditions of the present study affect some growth factors, such as, weight gain and FCR but have no significant impact on SGR. Histopathological studies showed that different level of AFB1 can cause broad range of changes in liver, kidney, spleen and gills tissues, particularly at concentration of 75 and 100 ppb AFB1/kg of diets after 60 days. No tumor formation observed. With regard to toxin concentration and time of exposure to AFB1 in experimental fish, different degree of skin lesions (simple hemorrhage to progressive wounds) were observed in different parts of body especially in vent, caudal peduncle, fins, and head. "Yellow sores" on head and trunk regions are considerable and led to deterioration of appearance. Prevalence of skin lesion in different treatments was 8 -53.3 %, which after stop feeding with toxic diets, 16-24 % healing observed. Haematological changes included chronic anemia and lymphocyteopenia. Also neutrophilia observed with increasing of skin lesions. Meat accumulation of AFB1 in different treatments is not so considerable and harmful for human consumption, but is significantly different with control fishes (P<0.01)

Interacting Ricci Dark Energy with Logarithmic Correction

Motivated by the holographic principle, it has been suggested that the dark energy density may be inversely proportional to the area $A$ of the event horizon of the universe. However, such a model would have a causality problem. In this work, we consider the entropy-corrected version of the holographic dark energy model in the non-flat FRW universe and we propose to replace the future event horizon area with the inverse of the Ricci scalar curvature. We obtain the equation of state (EoS) parameter $\omega_{\Lambda}$, the deceleration parameter $q$ and $\Omega_D'$ in the presence of interaction between Dark Energy (DE) and Dark Matter (DM). Moreover, we reconstruct the potential and the dynamics of the tachyon, K-essence, dilaton and quintessence scalar field models according to the evolutionary behavior of the interacting entropy-corrected holographic dark energy model.Comment: 24 pages, accepted for publication in 'Astrophysics and Space Science, DOI:10.1007/s10509-012-1031-8

Survey on health status in aquaculture sturgeons centers (Mazandaran, Guilan And Golestan Provinces)

Study of survey health management and diseases in hatcheries and fish farms can help us to knowledge and application control methods such as: prevention, treatment and increase high levels of production in hatchery and farms, finally. This survey carried out from 2005 to 2008 for 4 years in sturgeon hatcheries and farms of Golestan province. Sturgeon fishes include Huso Huso, Ship sturgeon, Acipenser persicus collected and for virology, bacteriology, fungius and hematology examined. Also, physicochemical parameters measured and recorded in different stages of culture. Results of this study showed that all of samples in virology was negative and did not observe any doubetful causes. In bacteriology CFU was variation from 3/9 ×105 to 6/9×10. The most parasites that detected in this survey was Cocolanus espherolanus, Sceria binopsulus semiarmatus and Amphilina fuliacea that separates from Acipenser Percicus, especially. The results about hematology parameters some important hematological indices of ship sturgeon include: The total RBC for female and mail specimens measured as 5.3±1.5 ×10^5, 4.8±0.5×10^5 per mm^3 respectively. The amount of haematocrit and hemoglobin for female and mail determined: 34.3±2.8, 35±1.4 percent and 10.3±0.9, 8.9±0.8 gr/dl .The MCV: 216.3± 96.2, 736.5± 102.5, MCH: 720.2±309.5, 186±0.7 and MCHC: 30±0.8, 25.5±3.4 percent respectively.The total WBC were (female, male): 21320±1054, 20580±777 per mm^3 and neutrophil: 16.4±2.5, 17±1.4 percent and lymphocyte: 74.4±2.4, 73.5± 0.7 percent and eosinophil: 6±1.4, 6.4±0.5 percent, monocyte: 2.8±0.8, 3.5±0.7 percent. There was not any significant differences (p>0.05) between mentioned parameters in male and female (students t-test). Also evaluation of hematological parameters in bluga ( Huso huso) include: total RBC were (male , female) 5±0.3 ×105 , 4.9±0.6 ×105 per mm^3 ,respectively and hematocrit: 33.2±6.7 , 35.4±3.4 percent and hemoglobin: 11.2±1.5 , 12.2±1gr/dl and MCV: 669.9±172.2, 723.9±982.4 and MCH: 226.2±42.5, 249.5±35.4 and MCHC: 34.1±2.4, 34.6±3.6 percent respectively. The totals WBC were (male, female): 24800±707.1, 23042±1375.4 per mm^3 and neutrophil: 18.5±0.7, 21.4±1.1 percent and lymphocyte: 73.5±1.4, 68.4±1.1 percent and eosinophil: 5±2.8, 7±1.2 percent and monocyte: 3.5±3.5, 3.2±0.8 percent. According to statistically study the count of lymphocyte had significant difference between male and female fish and this count in male was higher than female. (p≥0.05)