Optimizing the technique for replacement of unicellular algae with agricultural by-products in feeding Artemia urmiana and parthenogenetic Artemia

In order to assess the maximum replacement possibility of unicellular green algae with cheap food sources for feeding Artemia, two strains of Artemia urmiana and parthenogenetic Artemia were fed under laboratory condition using wheat bran, soybean meal and 50/50% mixed diet of wheat bran/soybean, each in 12 different concentrations together with different rations of Dunaliella salina for 15 days. The results were compared with those fed only on algae D. salina as control group. At the end of the experiment, control groups in each two strains (with 9.11mm growth and 86.25% survival in A. urmiana and 8.55mm growth and 85% survival in parthenogenetic Artemia) had almost the best condition. In A. urmiana treatments 95.8-88% replacement for algae of wheat bran, treatment 94% replacement for algae of soybean and treatments 97-94% replacement for algae of mixed wheat bran/ soybean showed no significant differences with control in both growth and survival. In parthenogenetic Artemia treatments 94-82% replacement for algae of wheat bran, treatments 91-88% replacement for algae of soybean and treatments 91-82% replacement for algae of mixed wheat bran/soybean showed no significant differences with their control in both growth and survival. According to the results, it seems that single-cell algae and their production requires exorbitant spending and personnel which can be replaced with easily affordable agricultural wastes, without need to specialized staff

Replacement of dietary fish meal with plant sources in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss); effect on growth performance, immune responses, blood indices and disease resistance

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of replacing fish meal with plant sources on growth performance, immune responses, hematological parameters and disease resistance in rainbow trout. In this study, mean of initial body weight of fish was 15±2 g and the experiment was carried out for a period of 60 days. Four experimental diets were formulated to replace 0, 40, 70 and 100% fish meal with plant protein sources (wheat gluten, corn gluten and soybean meal). According to results, higher plant protein inclusions (70 and 100%) resulted in undesirable effects on growth, nutritional indices, serum total immunoglobulin and alternative complement activity (P 0.05). Furthermore, replacement of fish meal with plant sources in all treatments had no significant effects on blood parameters (hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, hetrophil and lymphocytes count). Finally, no significant differences were observed in fish mortality after 15 days of challenges with Yersinia ruckeri among treatments (P > 0.05)

Comparison of the growth, survival and nutritional value of Artemia using various agricultural by-products and unicellular algae Dunaliella salina

Because of limitations of production of unicellular green algae (especially in large volumes), this study aimed to culture Artemia using three sources of cheap agricultural by-products that were coupled with small amounts of unicellular algae Dunaliella salina. The results of growth and survival, biomass production, individual wet weight, wet and ash percent, FCR and SGR and nutritional value of experiments groups were compared with that of the control group that was reared on a diet completely consisting of green algae. At the end of day 15, although best results in the case of growth and survival and biomass production were obtained in the control, the results of all evaluated parameters experimental treatments were comparable to the control

Interactive effect of replacing Dunaliella salina algae by agricultural by-products and probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus on digestive enzymes activity of Artemia franciscana

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing Dunaliella salina algae by agricultural by-products (wheat bran, rice bran and wheat/rice bran) and probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus on digestive enzymes activity of Artemia franciscana in a 17-day period post hatch. The study was a 4×2 factorial experiment carried out as a completely randomized design trial consisting of different dietary treatments (combinations of various substitution levels of Dunaliella salina by wheat bran, rice bran and wheat/rice bran along with probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus). All treatments were performed in triplicates. At the end of the trial, digestive enzymes activity was assayed. The results revealed that Artemia fed wheat bran without any dietary probiotic supplementation showed significantly higher amylase activity (2.06±0.3μmol maltose mg protein-1 min-1) (p<0.05). Treatment fed Dunaliella salina algae and probiotic showed significantly higher alkaine protease activity (7.11±0.87 U mg protein-1 min-1) and those fed wheat/rice bran with probiotic had significantly higher lipase activity (0.09±0.005 mmol p-nitrophenol mg protein-1 min-1 ) (p<0.05). It was revealed that dietary probiotic inclusion resulted in decreased amylase activity whilst its effect on the alkaline protease and lipase activities were totally dependent upon the feed ingredients (e.g., simultaneous feeding of artemia by Dunaliella salina algae and probiotic led to higher alkaline protease activity, while receiving probiotic resulted in higher lipase activity in group fed wheat/rice bran). Our results also showed that digestive enzyme profile of Artemia franciscana was responsive to dietary treatment. Conclusively, using wheat/rice bran in artemia pond culture would result in inferior digestive enzymes activity especially alkaline protease and lipase with subsequent effects on nutrient digestion/absorption efficiency and undesirable effects on pond productivity and final product quality

Introducing standard protocol for enrichment of Artemia urmiana nauplii with Canola oil

This research was performed to introduce a standard protocol for enrichment of Artemia urmian with Canola oil. Artemia urmiana nauplii were enriched at three densities (50000, 100000 and 200000 nauplii L^-1) and three concentrations of Canola oil (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g L^-1). Their effects were evaluated on survival, total length and profile of fatty acids at 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 hours after the onset of enrichment. Cysts of A.urmiana were hatched according to the standard method. A.urmiana nauplii were stocked at above densities in 7 L cylindrical containers. Canola oil emulsion was added at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g L^-1 at the beginning and 12 hours after the onset of enrichment. The results of analysis showed that enrichment of A.urmiana with 0.3 g L^ -1 Canola oil at 100000 nauplii L^-1 for 18 hours was considered as the best treatment. Artemia nauplii enriched in this treatment had significantly higher levels of (n-3) PUFA and survival and minimum total length comparing to other treatments. The treatment had significantly higher levels of (n-6) PUFA than all treatments except treatment with a density of 50,000 nauplii L^-1 with 0.1 g L^-1 Canola oil for 18 hours

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Medication Management Practices for Noncommunicable Diseases in Europe During the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Maintaining healthcare for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, diversion of resources to acute care, and physical distancing restrictions markedly affected management of NCDs. We aimed to assess the medication management practices in place for NCDs during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across European countries. In December 2020, the European Network to Advance Best practices & technoLogy on medication adherencE (ENABLE) conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey in 38 European and one non-European countries. Besides descriptive statistics of responses, nonparametric tests and generalized linear models were used to evaluate the impact on available NCD services of the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Fifty-three collaborators from 39 countries completed the survey. In 35 (90%) countries face-to-face primary-care, and out-patient consultations were reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean ± SD number of available forms of teleconsultation services in the public healthcare system was 3 ± 1.3. Electronic prescriptions were available in 36 (92%) countries. Online ordering and home delivery of prescription medication (avoiding pharmacy visits) were available in 18 (46%) and 26 (67%) countries, respectively. In 20 (51%) countries our respondents were unaware of any national guidelines regarding maintaining medication availability for NCDs, nor advice for patients on how to ensure access to medication and adherence during the pandemic. Our results point to an urgent need for a paradigm shift in NCD-related healthcare services to assure the maintenance of chronic pharmacological treatments during COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as possible future disasters

Effects of single and combined supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum with dietary xylooligosaccharide on growth performance, body composition and physiological responses of sobaity (Sparidentex hasta) fingerling

The aim of this study was to evaluate the single and combined effects of dietary probiotic with prebiotic on growth performance, non-specific immune response, body composition, digestive enzymes activity and intestine bacterial flora of sobaity fingerling (Sparidentex hasta). For this purpose, 425 individuals of sobaity fingerlings were prepared with an average weight of 7.64 ± 0.3 g from the Mariculture Research Station of South Iranian Aquaculture Research Center. This study was carried out in a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications (45 fish per each replication) in fiberglass tanks with 300 liters volume. Fish were fed with feed containing 0 (control group), 10^6 CFU probiotic per gram feed (treatment 1), 0.5 and 1 percent prebiotic plus10^6 CFU probiotic per gram feed (treatment 2 and 3) at 4.5 percent of body weight for a period of 42 days. At the end of the experiment, body composition, intestine, blood, plasma and mucus samples were collected. The obtained results indicated that dietary prebiotic and probiotic did not change growth performance, intestine bacterial flora and non-specific immune response of sobaity (P > 0.05). Nonetheless, plasma bactericidal activity of control group was significantly higher that treatment 3 (P < 0.05). Moisture and protein content of treatment 2 showed significant different compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed that digestive enzymes activity including alkaline protease, amylse and lipase affected by administration of dietary prebiotic and probiotic (P < 0.05). Overall, this study showed that single supplementation of probiotic and combination with prebiotic at the used amounts had no positive effects on growth performance and intestine bacterial flora and immune response (except plasma bactericidal activity) of sobaity but improve digestive enzymes activity

Parties, promiscuity and politicisation: business-political networks in Poland

Research on post-communist political economy has begun to focus on the interface between business and politics. It is widely agreed that informal networks rather than business associations dominate this interface, but there has been very little systematic research in this area. The literature tends to assume that a politicised economy entails business-political networks that are structured by parties. Theoretically, this article distinguishes politicisation from party politicisation and argues that the two are unlikely to be found together in a post-communist context. Empirically, elite survey data and qualitative interviews are used to explore networks of businesspeople and politicians in Poland. Substantial evidence is found against the popular idea that Polish politicians have business clienteles clearly separated from each other according to party loyalties. Instead, it is argued that these politicians and businesspeople are promiscuous. Since there seems to be little that is unusual about the Polish case, this conclusion has theoretical, methodological, substantive and policy implications for other post-communist countries

Beneficial effects of Se/Zn co-supplementation on body weight and adipose tissue inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

This research investigated the effect of co-supplementation of selenium with zinc on weight control and the inflammatory and oxidative status in relation to obesity. Male Wistar rats (N = 32) were randomly divided into four groups after induction of obesity model: 1) �Zn� was supplemented with zinc sulfate (15 mg/kg BW), 2) �Se� supplemented with selenium as sodium selenate (0.5 mg/kg BW), 3) �Zn + Se� which received Zn (15 mg/kg BW) + Se (0.5 mg/kg BW), and 4) �HFD� as the control group. The intervention was done for eight weeks. At the end of treatment, serum and tissue level of Zn, Se, SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, leptin, TNF-α, and IL-6 was evaluated. Weight and food intake were significantly reduced in the Se group(p <.001), while in the Zn group, weight gain due to obesity was prevented compared to the control group (p =.48). There was a significant and stronger increase in SOD, GSH-Px levels and a remarkable decrease in MDA, leptin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the group receiving the combination of two supplements than either alone(p <.001). Leptin had a positive correlation with inflammatory factors and lipid peroxidation marker and showed an inverse relationship with Zn and Se levels and anti-oxidative enzymes(p <.05). The analysis showed the mediating role of leptin in the effects of zinc. Co-supplementation of selenium and zinc may have a synergistic effect in reduction of oxidative and inflammatory markers. Regarding the effect of zinc on inflammatory factors and lipid peroxidation, leptin can play a mediating role. © 2021 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LL