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The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is the main native species reared in aquaculture in Brazil and in its neighboring countries. Currently, the production of fries is based on the use of carp pituitary extract (CPE), which has intrinsic disadvantages such as impurity, the presence of unknown components, and discontinuity of supply. Three GnRH analogs (GnRHa) were tested to stimulate artificial reproduction in tambaqui. A total of 28 mature females were used in the following treatments: T1: synthetic salmon GnRHa—5.0 μg/kg combined with domperidone (2.5 mg/kg); T2: gonadorelin—60 μg/kg; T3: buserelin acetate—0.7 μg/kg; and T4: CPE—5.5 mg/kg. Spawning success under strip spawning, quantity and quality of the eggs were evaluated. The plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, and 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were assessed before hormonal treatment and after stripping. All CPE-treated females released eggs via stripping, as occurred in 86% of the females treated with sGnRHa, 86% released eggs with gonadorelin, and 57% released eggs with buserelin. Degree-hour (DH) for strip spawning was higher in the GnRHa groups than for CPE (p ≤ 0.001). Total mass of the eggs, number of eggs/g of spawn, relative fecundity, fertilization index, and the rate of embryo survival were similar in all groups. There was a significant increase in steroid levels in all groups after receiving the hormones, including in the fish that did not release eggs under stripping. Although the commercial GnRHa did not stimulate the final maturation and/or ovulation in all females, they induced the ovulation of eggs in equal quality and quantity to the CPE, thus confirming the great potential of such drugs in the artificial reproduction of native neotropical fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the application of the A-priori algorithm for defining the rule-based relationships between individual defects caused during the lamination process, affecting the deformation defect of the yacht shell. The data from 542 yachts were collected and evaluated. For the proper development of the algorithm, a technological process of the yacht lamination supported by expert decisions was described. The laminating technology is a complex process of a sequential application of individual laminates according to a special strategy. The A-priori algorithm allowed for obtaining the set of association rules defining the relationships between the defects resulting from the lamination process and influencing the deformation defect of the yacht shell, which is one of the most common errors in yacht production. The obtained aggregated rules were compared with the expert knowledge of the employees of the production, quality control, mould regeneration, and technology departments of the yacht yard. The use of the proposed A-priori algorithm allowed for the generation of relationship rules consistent with the general opinion of experts. Associative rules additionally took into account detailed causes of a specific error, which were not always noticed by employees of specific departments. The assessment of the lamination process using an artificial intelligence algorithm turned out to be more objective, which made it possible to gradually reduce the total number of errors occurring in the yacht shell lamination process, and thus shorten the time needed to repair errors and the total time of producing the yacht. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contagion spread is a common phenomenon observable on a variety of complex networks. The knowledge of key spreaders and contagion dynamics facilitates the design of applications that can either reduce the spread of unwanted contagion or amplify the proliferation of desired ones. Hence, it is essential to identify and rank the influential (key) spreaders in complex networks. Extended neighbourhood coreness (Cnc+) is one such method that uses the k-shell index to identify and rank the influential spreaders. The neighborhood of a node plays a very important role in contagion spread and the combination of local and global topological information of a node can better capture the spreading influence of the nodes. In this paper, a measure, namely, hybrid Cnc+ coreNess (HCN) is proposed that extends Cnc+ by including first and second order neighbourhood of a node (local information) along with the k-shell index. In experiments, HCN is compared with state of the art methods for both real and artificial datasets. The results show that HCN is accurate and better than state of the art methods. Further, least variation in ranking accuracy is observed in experiments of parameter variation for artificial networks. Computational complexity analysis shows that the proposed method achieves high accuracy incurring a small computational penalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding animals with lactobacilli strains is a biotechnological strategy to improve production, food quality, and animal health. Thus, this study aimed to select new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) able to improve laying hens health and egg production. Forty Bovans White layers (two days old) were randomly divided into four experimental groups that receive an oral gavage with saline solution (control group) or with one of the three lactobacilli selected (KEG3, TBB10, and KMG127) by their antagonistic activity against the foodborne pathogen Bacillus cereus GGD_EGG01. 16 S rRNA sequencing identified KEG3 as Lentilactobacillus sp., and TBB10 and KMG127 as Lactiplantibacillus sp. The data showed that feeding birds with LAB increased weight uniformity and improved the internal quality of the eggs (high yolk index and Haugh unit) compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Beta-diversity analysis showed that LAB supplementation modifies the cecal microbiota of laying hens. The prokaryotic families Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Lactobacillaceae were most important to the total dissimilarity of the cecal microbial community (calculated by SIMPER test). At end of in vivo experiments, it was possible to conclude that the feed of laying hens with Lentilactobacillus sp. TBB10 and Lentilactobacillus sp. KEG3 can be an important biotechnological tool for improving food quality and animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to perform an association analysis and identify SNP markers associated with production traits of Japanese quail using restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing. Weekly body weight data from 805 quail were collected from hatching to 16 weeks of age. A total number of 3990 eggs obtained from 399 female quail were used to assess egg quality traits. Egg-related traits were measured at the beginning of egg production (first stage) and at 12 weeks of age (second stage). Five eggs were analyzed at each stage. Traits, such as egg weight, egg length and short axes, eggshell strength and weight, egg equator thickness, yolk weight, diameter, and colour, albumen weight, age of first egg, total number of laid eggs, and egg production rate, were assessed. A total of 383 SNPs and 1151 associations as well as 734 SNPs and 1442 associations were identified in relation to quail production traits using general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) approaches, respectively. The GLM-identified SNPs were located on chromosomes 1–13, 15, 17–20, 24, 26–28, and Z, underlying phenotypic traits, except for egg and albumen weight at the first stage and yolk yellowness at the second stage. The MLM-identified SNPs were positioned on defined chromosomes associated with phenotypic traits except for the egg long axis at the second stage of egg production. Finally, 35 speculated genes were identified as candidate genes for the targeted traits based on their nearest positions. Our findings provide a deeper understanding and allow a more precise genetic improvement of production traits of Galliformes, particularly in Japanese quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are the proteins that bind RNAs and regulate their functioning. RBPs in mosquitoes are gaining attention due to their ability to bind flaviviruses and regulate their replication and transmission. Despite their relevance, RBPs in mosquitoes are not explored much. In this study, we screened the whole genome of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of several pathogenic viruses, and identified the proteins containing RNA recognition motif (RRM), the most abundant protein domain in eukaryotes. Using several in silico strategies, a total of 135 RRM-containing RBPs were identified in Ae. aegypti. The proteins were characterized based on their available annotations and the sequence similarity with Drosophila melanogaster. Ae. aegypti RRM-containing RBPs included serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins, polyadenylate-binding proteins (PABP), heteronuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP), small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP), splicing factors, eukaryotic initiation factors, transformers, and nucleolysins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the proteins and the domain organization are conserved among Ae. aegypti, Bombyx mori, and Drosophila melanogaster. However, the gene length and the intron-exon organization varied across the insect species. Expression analysis of the genes encoding RBPs using publicly available RNA sequencing data for different developmental time points of the mosquito life cycle starting from the ovary and eggs up to the adults revealed stage-specific expression with several genes preferentially expressed in early embryonic stages and blood-fed female ovaries. This is the first database for the Ae. aegypti RBPs that can serve as the reference base for future investigations. Stage-specific genes can be further explored to determine their role in mosquito growth and development with a focus on developing novel mosquito control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying influential spreaders in complex networks is a widely discussed topic in the field of network science. Numerous methods have been proposed to rank key nodes in the network, and while gravity-based models often perform well, most existing gravity-based methods either rely on node degree, k-shell values, or a combination of both to differentiate node importance without considering the overall impact of neighboring nodes. Relying solely on a node's individual characteristics to identify influential spreaders has proven to be insufficient. To address this issue, we propose a new gravity centrality method called HVGC, based on the H-index. Our approach considers the impact of neighboring nodes, path information between nodes, and the positional information of nodes within the network. Additionally, it is better able to identify nodes with smaller k-shell values that act as bridges between different parts of the network, making it a more reasonable measure compared to previous gravity centrality methods. We conducted several experiments on 10 real networks and observed that our method outperformed previously proposed methods in evaluating the importance of nodes in complex networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the study is a cylindrical mesh shell without a regular structure covering, made of carbon fiber composite material. A distinctive feature of this class of structures is the intersection of families of annular and spiral edges. Mesh shells are used as power elements of spacecraft; therefore, when designing them, the main requirements are a reduction in the mass of the structure, high strength and stiffness characteristics. The reduction of the shell mass is achieved by varying and selecting the structural and geometric parameters of the edges. The article considers a set of mesh cylindrical structures of fixed mass. The authors have developed and presented an algorithm for calculating the number of elements of a regular edge structure and calculating the values of geometric parameters of elements of edge families. Two approaches to the formation of rib systems are considered: by changing the heights or thicknesses of the rib structure. A macro has been developed for modeling parametric discrete models of such edge structures in the ANSYS Mechanical APDL software package. When constructing discrete grid models, a one-dimensional two-node finite element BEAM4 was used. The model was rigidly attached at the nodes along the lower edge, and a load was applied to the nodes of the upper edge. Two types of loading were considered. The "nonflight" mode was determined by the axial loading of the shell evenly distributed along the upper edge. The "flight" mode additionally took into account the applied moment. The displacement and deformation fields were calculated numerically in the ANSYS finite element package. The article presents the results of a study of the effect of the density of the rib structure on the stability of mesh shells under static axial loading, natural frequencies, and waveforms. It is shown that, with increasing density, the rib structure becomes thinner. At the same time, the critical load decreases, the values of the natural frequencies of the shells decrease, and the number of waves in the forms increases. The influence of approaches to the modeling of rib structures on the results of numerical calculations is noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying influential spreaders in complex networks is a widely discussed topic in the field of network science. Numerous methods have been proposed to rank key nodes in the network, and while gravity-based models often perform well, most existing gravity-based methods either rely on node degree, k-shell values, or a combination of both to differentiate node importance without considering the overall impact of neighboring nodes. Relying solely on a node's individual characteristics to identify influential spreaders has proven to be insufficient. To address this issue, we propose a new gravity centrality method called HVGC, based on the H-index. Our approach considers the impact of neighboring nodes, path information between nodes, and the positional information of nodes within the network. Additionally, it is better able to identify nodes with smaller k-shell values that act as bridges between different parts of the network, making it a more reasonable measure compared to previous gravity centrality methods. We conducted several experiments on 10 real networks and observed that our method outperformed previously proposed methods in evaluating the importance of nodes in complex networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring intra- and inter-individual variation in movement can bring important insights into the fundamental ecology of animals and their welfare. Although previous studies identified consistent differences in movements of laying hens within commercial aviaries, the level of consistency was not quantified, limiting our capacity to understand the importance of individual movements for welfare. We aimed to quantify the scope of intra- and inter-individual differences in movements of commercial laying hens and examined their associations with indicators of welfare at the end of production. We quantified individual differences in one composite daily movement score for 80 hens over 54 days post-transfer to a quasi-commercial aviary. Results showed consistent inter-individual differences in movement averages, explaining 44% of the variation, as well as individual variation in predictability and temporal plasticity (at the population-level, hens increased their movements for 39 days). Hens that were more predictable in their daily movements had more severe keel bone fractures at the end of production while we found no such correlation between daily movement averages (individual intercept) and welfare indicators. Our findings highlight the importance of inter-individual difference in intra-individual variation of movements to improve poultry welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the effects of thermal stress on Japanese quails helps support decision-making regarding the management of climate control systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and egg quality of Japanese quails subjected to different air temperatures (tair) and to propose thresholds for the temperature-humidity index (THI), the Black globe humidity index (BGHI), and enthalpy (H). Two experiments (21 days each) were conducted in four climate-controlled wind tunnels. In the first experiment, tair was 20, 22, 24, and 26 °C, and in the second, tair was 20, 28, 30, and 32 °C. The relative humidity (RH) and air velocity were 60% and 0.3 ms−1, respectively. To define the comfort thresholds, the productive performance of the birds, water intake, and egg quality were evaluated. No differences were observed (p > 0.05) for the performance-related variables, except for feed intake, which decreased (p < 0.05) as tair increased, and water intake, which increased (p < 0.5) by 15.9% starting at 28 °C. For experiments 1 and 2, with tair at 20 °C (tair,obs = 20.8 and 21.3 °C, respectively), there was evidence of cold stress. The shell thickness, Haugh unit, and internal quality unit were negatively influenced (p < 0.05) by tair starting at 28 °C. Japanese quails were able, within certain limits, to adapt to continuous thermal stress. The Japanese quails thermal comfort intervals recommended for THI, BGHI, and H are 68.4 to 76.2, 69.1 to 77.2, and 50.5 to 67.2 kJ kgdry air−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wide biodiversity of avian species of zootechnical interest in Spain, projects aimed at characterizing these genotypes and their products are necessary. External and internal egg quality traits were measured in 819 eggs laid by hens of 10 different genotypes: White, Franciscan, Black and Partridge varieties of Utrerana, Blue Andalusian, Spanish White-Faced, Andalusian Tufted White and Black varieties, Araucana; and Leghorn Lohmann LSL-Classic lineage (commercial hybrid line) hen breeds. After multicollinearity analysis of egg quality-related traits was performed (VIF ≤ 4), major diameter, minor diameter, egg weight, and albumen height were deemed redundant explanatory variables and discarded. A stepwise discriminant canonical analysis was developed to cluster eggs across hen genotypes considering egg quality attributes. Shell a* and b* variables reported the highest discriminant power (Wilks' lambda: 0.699 and 0.729, respectively). The first two discriminant functions captured 60.48% of the variance across groups (F1: 39.36%; F2: 21.12%). Clear quality differentiation signs are evidenced for Mediterranean native breeds' eggs when compared to Leghorn's eggs. Consequently, this evidence of egg quality differentiation may favor the standardization of breed- and variety-linked distinctive products, which may open new market opportunities based on the existence of a wide spectrum of diet or culinary applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of concomitant use of short-chain organic acids (acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid) and probiotics mixture on the production performance, quality parameters of eggs produced, and fecal microbiota in laying hens. The project was carried out with 320 laying hens at 47 weeks. This experiment was a fully randomized 4 × 2 factorial experiment consisting of 4 levels of organic acid (zero, 0.1% propionic acid, 0.2% butyric acid, and 0.3% acetic acid) and 2 levels of probiotics mixture (zero and 0.01%) with 5 replications and 8 laying hens per replication. The results showed that dietary supplementation with acetic acid and butyric acid increases the feed intake compared to a diet without additives. Still, supplementation of the diet with short-chain fatty acids and probiotics mixture did not affect feed conversion ratio, egg weight, egg production, or egg mass during the entire experiment period (47 to 58 weeks of age). Supplementation of the diet with feed additives did not affect egg albumen percentage, albumen index, and Haugh unit. Also, lactic acid bacteria and coliform populations have not been affected by experimental diets. The data indicated that a supplemental level of short-chain organic acids (acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid) and probiotics mixture had no beneficial effects on performance, egg white quality, and fecal microbiota under the conditions of the current experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer push towards open and free-range production systems makes biosecurity on farms challenging, leading to increased disease and animal welfare issues. Phytogenic products are increasingly becoming a viable alternative for the use of antibiotics in livestock production. Here we present a study of the effects of commercial phytogenic supplement containing menthol, carvacrol and carvone on intestinal microbiota of layer hens, microbial functional capacity, and intestinal morphology. A total of 40,000 pullets were randomly assigned to two sides of the experimental shed. Growth performance, mortality, egg production and egg quality parameters were recorded throughout the trial period (18–30 weeks of age). Microbial community was investigated using 16S amplicon sequencing and functional difference using metagenomic sequencing. Phytogen supplemented birds had lower mortality and number of dirty eggs, and their microbial communities showed reduced richness. Although phytogen showed the ability to control the range of poultry pathogens, its action was not restricted to pathogenic taxa, and it involved functional remodelling the intestinal community towards increased cofactor production, heterolactic fermentation and salvage and recycling of metabolites. The phytogen did not alter the antimicrobial resistance profile or the number of antibiotic resistance genes. The study indicates that phytogenic supplementation can mimic the action of antibiotics in altering the gut microbiota and be used as their alternative in industry-scale layer production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) on the productive performance, egg quality, nutrient retention and immune function of Hy-Line Brown laying hens. A total of 480 23-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to four groups with six replicates of twenty birds each. The dietary treatments were control (basal diet), and CHMs groups (basal diet supplemented with 4, 8 and 12 g kg−1 dry weight CHMs). After 42 days, 8 and 12 g kg−1 dry weight CHMs significantly increased the productive performance, retention of crude protein, egg albumen height, egg yolk, yolk color, haugh unit, egg yolk cholesterol concentration and indexes of immune organs when compared with control groups (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between 8 and 12 g kg−1 dry weight CHMs. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the retention of dry matter and gross energy, egg specific gravity and shell thickness between treatment and control groups. Furthermore, cytokine levels in the jejunum and ileum mucosa of birds fed the 8 g kg−1 dry weight CHMs diet were greater than those of birds fed the 4 and 12 g kg−1 dry weight CHMs and control diets. The study indicated that dietary supplementation of CHMs is a viable strategy for improving production performance, egg quality, nutrient retention, immune function of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steady demand for fish in the aquaculture sector has led to the study and implementation of new compounds of natural origin which seek to standardize and maximize production by ensuring reproductive performance. Microalgae have emerged as a renewable source with specific nutritive qualities that allows the enhancement of captive breeding, and the use of local strain aims to facilitate cultivation and reduce production costs. Therefore, in this study, the effect of a diet supplemented with a diatom of the genus Grammatophora obtained from La Paz Bay, Mexico, was evaluated on the reproductive performance of 5-year-old Pacific Red snapper (Lutjanus peru). Two isoproteic and isolipidic diets were compared: the control semi-humid diet (R0) and the experimental enriched diet with 3% of Grammatophora sp. silage made by fermentation (R1). Fishes were fed ad libitum 3 months previous to the spawning season during 7 months. Hatching rate was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for R1 eggs (77%) compared to control (39–64%). For R0, egg sizes fluctuated significantly during the spawning season and presented an average diameter of 782.4 ± 5.5 µm. For R1, the egg diameter, significantly larger (792.5 ± 4.1 µm), was stable throughout the season. Finally, R1 eggs had significant higher polyunsaturated fatty acid content (arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids) compared to R0 eggs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplemented mature L. peru with 3% of Grammatophora sp. silage in fish, prior and during spawning season, is recommended to improve their reproductive performance (hatching rate, egg size and egg quality) and ensure larval production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of influential spreaders is still a challenging issue in network science. Therefore, it attracts increasing attention from both computer science and physical societies, and many algorithms to identify influential spreaders have been proposed so far. Degree centrality, as the most widely used neighborhood-based centrality, was introduced into the network world to evaluate the spreading ability of nodes. However, degree centrality always assigns too many nodes with the same value, so it leads to the problem of resolution limitation in distinguishing the real influences of these nodes, which further affects the ranking efficiency of the algorithm. The k-shell decomposition method also faces the same problem. In order to solve the resolution limit problem, we propose a high-resolution index combining both degree centrality and the k-shell decomposition method. Furthermore, based on the proposed index and the well-known gravity law, we propose an improved gravity model to measure the importance of nodes in propagation dynamics. Experiments on ten real networks show that our model outperforms most of the state-of-the-art methods. It has a better performance in terms of ranking performance as measured by the Kendall's rank correlation, and in terms of ranking efficiency as measured by the monotonicity value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A study was undertaken to assess the effect of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed (BPC) supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of serum and yolk in laying hens. A total of seventy-two 22-week-old Bovans White hens were randomly allocated to 12 cages to have similar cage body weight (1520 ± 5 g). The dietary treatments consist of basal diet (control) and basal diet supplements with 5 g BPC/kg of diet. Recording data initiated after 2 weeks. Results: In the second week, hens fed diets containing BPC had significantly higher egg mass and egg weight (P < 0.05). Final BW was significantly higher in laying hens fed diets containing BPC (P < 0.05). The percentage of egg white protein as one of the highest quality proteins available was significantly higher in laying hens fed diets supplemented with BPC (P < 0.05). Hens fed diets containing BPC had significantly higher TAC compared with control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicated that addition of BPC to Bovans White hens at peaking period, receiving nutrient adequate diets, could induce favorable influences on egg quality and TAC of egg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the induction of Japanese eel maturation, administering maturation-inducing steroids (MIS) or their precursors at an inappropriate maturational status is a major cause of poor egg quality. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of controlling oocyte maturation progress by rearing in cold and warm water to manipulate the timing of MIS administration. Mature females with oocytes at the migratory nucleus stage were reared for two terms (3 days to 1 day and 1 day to 0 days before MIS administration) at 20/20 °C, 20/15 °C, 15/20 °C, or 15/15 °C, and the maturational status was monitored based on their lipid droplet morphology and oocyte diameter. Oocytes matured faster at 20 °C than at 15 °C in either term. Next, the mature females were reared at 15 or 20 °C depending on the maturational status of each female 3 days and 1 day before MIS administration; the immature females were reared at 20 °C to accelerate their maturation. Consequently, the maturational status of most females was similar at MIS administration. After improvement, this method would lead most females to the optimum maturational status at MIS administration by properly rearing in cold and warm water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bioactive constituents of medicinal-aromatic plants used as feed additives may affect the metabolic profile and oxidative stability of hen eggs. Objectives: To determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a mixture of dried oregano, thyme, sideritis tea and chamomile on laying hen performance, egg quality parameters, and oxidative stability in the egg yolk were monitored. Methods: In this trial 432 hens were allocated in two treatments (unsupplemented vs. supplemented with the mixture) and fed for 42 days. Eggs were collected at the end of the trial period, egg yolk was separated, extracted, and the total phenolic content (TPC) and oxidative stability was measured. Furthermore, LC-MS metabolic profile of eggs was studied and pathway analysis was elaborated in MetaboAnalyst to facilitate annotation of features. Results: Overall, egg production and feed conversion ratio were not affected by the supplementation. However, eggs from the supplemented treatment showed improved shell thickness and strength, and yolk resistance to oxidation. Moreover, LC-MS metabolomic analysis of egg yolk of supplemented and unsupplemented layers showed significant variations and tight clustering in unsupervised principal component analysis due to different chemical profiling of egg yolk. LC-MS study showed that secondary metabolites of aromatic plants did not transfer into yolk, nevertheless the feed supplementation impacted the pathway metabolism of tyrosine, phenylalanine, propanate, and the biosynthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. Conclusions: The dietary supplementation of layers with a mixture of dried medicinal aromatic plants affected shell thickness and strength, the lipid and protein oxidative stability and increased tyrosine and phenylalanine content in eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sturgeon and paddlefishes (Acipenseriformes) are cultured worldwide for commercial and conservation purposes. Over the past decade, we have learned many sturgeon culture programs experience spontaneous autopolyploidy, or the generation of triploidy without management intervention. Spontaneous autopolyploidy has been shown to negatively impact the physiology, reproductive development and fertility of sturgeon. Given these concerns, it is necessary to understand how it arises, how it affects production, and how it can be managed. The goal of this review is to describe the incidence of spontaneous autopolyploidy in sturgeon relative to other fishes, explain how spontaneous autopolyploids are formed, and report what is known about how triploidy and intermediate ploidy effect sturgeon reproductive development and physiology. We then describe four common methods for detecting spontaneous autopolyploids and their intermediate ploidy progeny and end with recommendations for reducing the incidence of spontaneous autopolyploidy based on the results of recent research. Although spontaneous autopolyploidy may never be completely eliminated from sturgeon culture, following these recommendations may significantly decrease its incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate if cytoplasmic transfer can improve fertilization and embryo quality of women with oocytes of low quality. During ICSI, 10–15% of the cytoplasm from a fresh or frozen young donor oocyte was added to the recipient oocyte. According to the embryo quality, we defined group A as patients in which the best embryo was evident after cytoplasmic transfer and group B as patients in which the best embryo was evident after a simple ICSI. We investigated in the period of 2002–2018, 125 in vitro fertilization cycles involving 1011 fertilized oocytes. Five hundred fifty-seven sibling oocytes were fertilized using ICSI only and 454 oocytes with cytoplasmic transfer. Fertilization rates of oocytes were 67.2% in the cytoplasmic transfer and 53.5% in the ICSI groups (P < 0.001). A reduction in fertilization rate was observed with increased women age in the ICSI but not in the cytoplasmic transfer groups. The best embryo quality was found after cytoplasmic transfer in 78 cycles (62.4%) and without cytoplasmic transfer in 40 cycles (32%, P < 0.001). No significant differences were detected between the age, hormonal levels, dose of stimulation drugs, number of transferred embryos, pregnancy rate and abortion rate between A and B groups. Cytoplasmic transfer improves fertilization rates and early embryo development in humans with low oocyte quality. All 28 children resulting from cytoplasmic transfer are healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the planned limitations in the use of genetically modified soybean meal, the search for alternative sources of protein in animal nutrition is ongoing, which also supports the consumers' expectations of good quality products, such as eggs. The aim of the study was to assess and compare morphological traits of eggs, fatty acid composition in yolk lipids, and the content and activity of lysozyme in thick and thin albumen in eggs from hens fed a diet based on legume seeds as a substitute for soybean meal depending on the hens age. Analyses were carried out for 300 eggs on dates I–V (19–39 weeks age of hens), obtained from Rosa 1 hens managed in the semi-intensive system. Quality analysis was performed for 30 eggs from each group at a time. The control group of hens (A) was fed a diet based on soybean meal (SBM) and the treatment group (B) was fed a diet based on seeds from narrow-leaved lupin (Boruta), yellow lupin (Mister), and pea (Muza). Eggs were analysed for morphological traits (egg weight, the weight and density of egg components, egg shape index and egg surface area), parameters of albumen (height, Haugh units), yolk colour (La Roche, colorimetry in the CIE Lab system), lysozyme content and activity in albumen, and fatty acids composition in yolk lipids. In group B the egg shape index was higher (p = 0.002), and the eggshell colour index was lower (p = 0.007), as well as the height of thick albumen, Haugh score, and yolk colour (La Roche) were higher in group B (p < 0.05), while redness of yolk was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in group A. Lower content of C15:0 and C18:1n9 and higher content of C18:2n6 and C18:3n3, (p < 0.05), as well as lower content of MUFA and OMEGA 9, but higher content of PUFA, OMEGA 3, OMEGA 6, PUFA/SFA, OMEGA 9/6 and OMEGA 9/3 were found in group B compared to group A (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in traits between age of hens (p < 0.05). Egg weight, yolk weight and its proportion in egg, as well as shell weight, its strength and thickness increased with the age of hens (p < 0.05). The content of lysozyme and its activity were also higher in eggs from older hens (p < 0.05). Fatty acids composition was beneficial at the beginning and end of the analysed egg production period. The proposed feed mixture based on legume seeds had no negative effect on the quality of eggs, and had a positive effect on yolk colour, the quality of albumen. There was no detrimental effect of diet and age of hens on fatty acid composition of eggs from both groups throughout the study period. To sum up, diet with legume seeds could be accepted as a substitute for soybean meal, due to the beneficial effects for some mentioned traits of eggs. Use of legumes could give a partial self-sufficient for producers from small farms, where is not possible to produce soybean meal. At the same time, the level of anti-nutrients in legumes should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closed-cycle aquaculture using hatchery produced seed stocks is vital to the sustainability of endangered species such as Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) because this aquaculture system does not depend on aquaculture seeds collected from the wild. High egg quality promotes efficient aquaculture production by improving hatch rates and subsequent growth and survival of hatched larvae. In this study, we investigate the possibility of a simple, low-cost, and accurate egg quality prediction system based only on photographic images using deep neural networks. We photographed individual eggs immediately after spawning and assessed their qualities, i.e., whether they hatched normally and how many days larvae survived without feeding. The proposed system predicted normally hatching eggs with higher accuracy than human experts. It was also successful in predicting which eggs would produce longer-surviving larvae. We also analyzed the image aspects that contributed to the prediction to discover important egg features. Our results suggest the applicability of deep learning techniques to efficient egg quality prediction, and analysis of early developmental stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercultural Digital Ethics (IDE) faces the central challenge of how to develop a global IDE that can endorse and defend some set of (quasi-) universal ethical norms, principles, frameworks, etc. alongside sustaining local, culturally variable identities, traditions, practices, norms, and so on. I explicate interpretive pros hen (focal or "towards one") ethical pluralism (EP(ph)) emerging in the late 1990s and into the twenty-first century in response to this general problem and its correlates, including conflicts generated by "computer-mediated colonization" that imposed homogenous values, communication styles, and so on upon "target" peoples and cultures via ICTs as embedding these values in their very design. I contrast different kinds of ethical pluralisms as structural apparatus for understanding what differences may mean and allow for, as these emerged in the 1990s forwards with EP(ph). As interwoven with phronēsis, a form of reflective judgment and virtue, EP(ph) more radically preserves irreducible differences and so fosters positive engagements across deep cultural differences. I show how EP(ph) emerged in the context of empirical research on "Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication" (CATaC) beginning in 1998, and then in specific applications within Internet Research Ethics (IRE) beginning in 2000. I summarize its main characteristics and trace how it has further been taken up in ICE, IRE, Intercultural Information Ethics, and virtue ethics more broadly. I respond to important criticisms and objections, arguing that EP(ph) thus stands as an important component for a contemporary IDE that seeks an ethical cosmopolitanism in place of computer-mediated colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global climate warms, the fate of lacustrine fish is of huge concern, especially given their sensitivity as ectotherms to changes in water temperature. The Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) is a salmonid with a Holarctic distribution, with peripheral populations persisting at temperate latitudes, where it is found only in sufficiently cold, deep lakes. Thus, warmer temperatures in these habitats particularly during early life stages could have catastrophic consequences on population dynamics. Here, we combined lake temperature observations, a 1-D hydrodynamic model, and a multi-decadal climate reanalysis to show coherence in warming winter water temperatures in four European charr lakes near the southernmost limit of the species' distribution. Current maximum and mean winter temperatures are on average ~ 1 °C warmer compared to early the 1980s, and temperatures of 8.5 °C, adverse for high charr egg survival, have frequently been exceeded in recent winters. Simulations of winter lake temperatures toward century-end showed that these warming trends will continue, with further increases of 3–4 °C projected. An additional 324 total accumulated degree-days during winter is projected on average across lakes, which could impair egg quality and viability. We suggest that the perpetuating winter warming trends shown here will imperil the future status of these lakes as charr refugia and generally do not augur well for the fate of coldwater-adapted lake fish in a warming climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a valuable contribution to the knowledge of feeding habits of Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides in Southwestern Atlantic (53–55°S, 351 to 1073 m depth) near Burdwood Bank/Namuncurá marine-protected area, where diet has not been previously investigated. Based on stomach content analyses of 441 specimens ranging from 38 to 190 cm total length (TL), our study tested the hypotheses that diet was influenced by TL, sex, maturity stage, depth, and region, using generalized linear models and information theory selection criteria. The Patagonian toothfish fed primarily on fish (morid cod Notophycis marginata, myctophids, rattails Macrourus holotrachys and Coelorinchus fasciatus, notothenids Patagonotothen ramsayi, and hoki Macruronus magellanicus), followed by cephalopods (Onykia ingens, Doryteuthis gahi) and shrimps (Acanthephyra pelagica). One case of cannibalism was recorded. The trophic level was 4.57 (4.22 juveniles, 4.78 adults). The pelagic fish and bathypelagic shrimp were more consumed in the east region, whereas demersal fish and cephalopods were more consumed in the west one. Ontogenetic dietary changes associated with TL and maturity stage were reported: pelagic fish and shrimp A. pelagica had the main importance in the diet of intermediate-sized toothfish, reinforcing the hypothesis that juveniles exhibited a bento-pelagic behavior. Demersal fish were more heavily consumed by juvenile specimens, and the size of demersal fish predated by Patagonian toothfish increased according to the predator TL. Cephalopods were more consumed by adults. The preference of sexually mature specimens for cephalopods could have a positive effect on spawning and egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry farms across the world house animals such as cows, sheep's, pigs and hen These farms are the places from where the market gets meat, eggs, wool and other animal products which are used in our daily lives. But sometimes the business of the farms is severely hit primarily due to poultry animals catching diseases or these animals succumbing to injuries caused due to fighting each other. The identification of such animals showing unusual characteristics or behavior is necessary. We through our paper use deep learning concepts to help the poultry owner to identify these unusual characteristics in a sheep. Some of the characteristics that our paper identifies are skinny, redness, non-aggression, aggression, beefy and foraging. Our paper makes use of a video, shot from a camera and the implementation of a sequential model as well as make use of the SSD algorithm to identify and characterize the sheep's depicted in the video. The sequential model is trained using the training dataset which contains static images of sheep's and the attribute/characteristics depicted by those sheep's that are stored in a CSV file. The testing dataset contains the images that are extracted from the input video as frames. The testing dataset is passed through the sequential model to get the characteristics/attributes depicted by the sheep in each frame and store those characteristics/attributes in a CSV file. The SSD algorithm is trained on identifying the various animals and not only does it display the name of the animal detected, it displays the confidence percentage of the animal as well, in our paper it is used for identifying sheep. The above stated algorithm also creates a border around the identified sheep such that it can be used for tracking purposes during the entirety of the video. The SSD algorithm also takes in the attributes depicted by these frames and displays them along the border which identifies the sheep. The accuracy is compared with YOLO algorithms and shows 3 to 6% improvement on prediction rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluates the effects of storage periods (1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 days), egg size (small 60–64 g, medium 65–69 g, and large ≥ 70 g), and egg positioning with air cell facing either down or up during storage on hatchability percentages and day-old chick's weight. One thousand and five hundred (1500) fertile eggs from Arbor acre broiler breed were purchased and arranged each according to egg sizes into five (5) different storage periods of 100 eggs per storage period. Each storage period was subdivided into 2 groups of 50 eggs each based on positioning during storage. A completely randomized design in 3 × 5 × 2 factorial arrangement was adopted. Stored eggs were incubated for hatch with recording of weights of the hatched chicks, and the hatchability rate was calculated. Results: The results indicated eggs stored for a day and 4 days had maximum hatchability, but declined slightly as the storage period increased (92 to 78%). The eggs positioned down generally had better hatchability. However, medium-sized eggs had the highest hatchability percentage. On the other hand, large-sized eggs stored for longer period attained higher chick weight compared to medium- and small-sized eggs, but large-sized eggs positioned down gave a better chick weight. Generally, eggs stored with air cell down present superior chick weight. Conclusion: Storage period and egg positioning during storage affect the subsequent egg hatchability and weight of the hatched chicks from different egg sizes. However, egg storage must not exceed 4 days for optimum hatchability and weight of the hatched chicks. In addition, storing of eggs with air cell down might also enhance the hatchability and weight of hatched chicks irrespective of the weight of the eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controversial glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most frequently used herbicides globally. GBH residues are detected in soil, water, crops, and food products, potentially exposing non-target organisms to health risks; these organisms include wildlife, livestock, and humans. However, the potential for GBH-related parental effects are poorly understood. In the case of birds, GBHs may be transferred directly from mothers to eggs, or they may indirectly influence offspring performance by altered maternal resource allocation to eggs. We experimentally exposed a parental generation of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) to GBHs (200 mg/kg feed) or respective controls. Glyphosate residues were found in eggs (ca 0.76 kg/mg). Embryonic development tended to be poorer in the eggs of GBH-exposed parents (76% of eggs showed normal development) compared to control parents (89% normal eggs). Embryonic brain tissue from GBH-exposed parents tended to express more lipid damage (20% higher), yet other biomarkers showed no apparent differences. We detected no differences in egg quality (egg, yolk, or shell mass, egg hormone concentration) across the treatment groups. Given this is the first long-term study testing parental effects of GBHs with birds, more studies are needed characterizing GBH-associated changes in maternal allocation and for example epigenetic programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuckoo optimization algorithm (COA) is inspired from the special and exotic lifestyle of a bird family called the cuckoo and her amazing and unique behavior in egg laying and breeding. Just like any other population-based swarm intelligence metaheuristic algorithms, the basic COA starts with a set of randomly generated solutions called "habitats." Actually, the habitats can be the current locations of either the mature cuckoos or their eggs. In an iterative manner, cuckoos lay their eggs around their habitats inside the other birds' nests by mimicking their eggs' color, pattern, and size, and this is a kind of parasitic brooding behavior. Some hosts may discriminate the strange eggs and throw them out while the others not. The survival competition between cuckoos and their hosts, and migration of cuckoos in swarm are two main underlying motivations to introduce the COA. In this paper, an adaptive cuckoo optimization algorithm named A-COA is proposed in which three novelties in egg-laying and migration phases are applied. These modifications have made the basic algorithm more efficient with faster convergence to solve continuous and discrete optimization problems. A comprehensive comparison study of A-COA versus not only the basic COA but also some other conventional metaheuristics like GA, PSO, ABC, and TLBO has been made on a variety of unimodal and multimodal numerical benchmark functions with different characteristics, and the results show an overall 25.85% of improvement in terms of performance with a faster convergence speed compared to the basic COA, where the statistical Wilcoxon rank-sum test certifies our conclusions. In addition, a discretized version of A-COA and its application to the multiprocessor task scheduling problem as a complex combinatorial optimization problem are investigated where the proposed A-COA is very competitive with not only the strongest conventional heuristics, for example, MCP, ETF, and DLS, but also the basic COA and the newly proposed ACO-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computer model of nonradiative electronic excitation energy transfer from nanoclusters of colloidal quantum dots of cadmium selenide to the meso-tetra(3-pyridyl)porphyrin molecule in hybrid nanostructures nanocluster–dye has been constructed and analyzed. The model uses the experimental luminescence and absorption spectra of quantum dots and the dye, takes into account heterogeneity of the properties of quantum dots in nanoclusters and the different location of the dye in the hybrid structure. It has been shown that, in the ideal case, due to such energy transfer, the intensity of the luminescent signal of the dye can be increased by five orders of magnitude. However, this value is significantly reduced due to nonluminescent particles, the presence of a protective ligand shell, a large size distribution of the particles, and the nonoptimal geometric structure of the hybrid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial maturation and ovulation of Japanese eel do not always result in the production of good-quality eggs. The molecular basis for compromised egg quality in artificially matured Japanese eel remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the localization of six maternal transcripts, grip2, dazl, sybu, trim36, pou5f3 and npm2, and egg quality in artificially matured Japanese eel oocytes and eggs. We observed that localization of these messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in oocytes from the perinucleolus stage to the migratory nucleus stage is not associated with egg quality. In contrast, in ovulated eggs, we observed two different mRNA localization patterns, which we designated type A (mRNA localized in the cortex) and type B (mRNA distributed more centrally). Furthermore, individuals containing many type B eggs tended to have low fertilization and hatching rates, but this was not reflected in the target gene mRNA levels. Our results suggest that the loss of quality in eggs from artificially matured Japanese eel is caused by abnormal mRNA localization even if there is no difference in mRNA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive characteristics under different water temperature regimes were examined in hatchery-reared walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus. The fish had been cultured for 33 months post-hatching before the experiment, and the first spawning was observed from 24 to 27 months post-hatching. From 33 months post-hatching, fish were cultured at three temperature regimes (2, 5, and 8 °C), and spawning was observed from 36 to 39 months post-hatching. The peak of the spawning period was earliest at 8 °C and latest at 2 °C, and a 3 °C difference resulted in the 2–5 weeks difference in the peak spawning period. Thus, high temperature would have accelerated gonadal maturation. In contrast, the effect of temperature on the egg quality was unclear. Egg diameter was largest at 5 °C, followed by 2 °C and 8 °C, but the starvation tolerance of larvae was not significantly explained by spawning temperature. These results elucidate the mechanisms that underlie variability of the spawning period and the larval survival of wild walleye pollock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of egg storage after stripping was examined in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). The storage temperature was adjusted to 4 °C, as the cold storage temperature, and to 15 °C, as the natural spawning temperature of pikeperch. Batches of 2 g egg aliquots from four females were fertilized at 0, 12, 24, and 48 h post stripping (HPS). The highest fertilization and hatching rates were obtained immediately after the stripping of the eggs. Thereafter, the values decreased significantly (P < 0.05); fertilization rates dropped to 5% at 48 HPS at the storage temperature of 4 °C and to 10% at 24 HPS at 15 °C. In addition, with elapsing time after ovulation, the embryo mortality and larval malformation rates increased significantly. The embryo mortalities increased from 35% at 0 HPS to 100% at 24 HPS at 4 °C and at 12 HPS at 15 °C. The larval malformation rates also increased from 36% at 0 HPS to 71% at 12 HPS at the storage temperature of 4 °C. Pikeperch eggs, therefore, should be immediately fertilized after stripping to obtain the highest egg fertilization and hatching rates, as well as the lowest embryo mortality and larval malformation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several papers were dealing with intensively reared broodstocks, most of the published artificial reproduction protocols were applied in wild pikeperch breeders. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of ovulation induction agents, namely human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and salmon gonadotropin–releasing hormone analogue (sGnRHa) on the reproductive performance in pre-seasonal artificial propagation of cultured pikeperch. Breeders were harvested from an outdoor in-pond circulation system in mid-September and transferred to indoor facility in late January, conditioned and injected with either 50 μg kg−1 of sGnRHa or 500 IU kg−1 of hCG, with six females in each hormonal group. Stripped eggs from each female were sampled for chemical composition analysis, fertilised with the milt of two males, incubated and obtained larvae were further reared. No significant differences were noticed between the treatments in any of the analysed parameters of embryo survival nor larviculture performance. Rather high differences in intragroup variation were seen between the treatments, expressed in several-fold higher coefficients of variation in embryo survival in experimental and commercial conditions in the hCG group. Eggs obtained from females treated with hCG had a significantly higher lipid content (31.1% ± 2.0%) compared to sGnRHa-treated females (27.4% ± 1.8%). Fatty acid profiles of the eggs revealed differences in total n − 6 and linoleic acid 18:2n − 6 content while n − 3/n − 6 was significantly lower in the hCG group. Gonadoliberins reduced the variability in the spawning outcome. It appears that hormones can modify the eggs' fat content during the pre-season artificial reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish embryos and larvae undoubtedly depend on maternal provisioning of essential egg components, such as fatty acids (FA), during early ontogeny. But which aspects and stages of batch-specific larval development are modulated by these inherent oocyte traits? This question is of major importance from an ecological, as well as from an aquacultural perspective. We examined the effects of batch-specific non-nuclear-genetic egg traits (fatty acid (FA) profiles, egg size, mtDNA fragmentation, cortisol content) already in unfertilized oocytes of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and studied their influence on survival (15 dph) and larval performance (length at hatch, stress resistance, first feeding, swim bladder inflation rate, yolk sac and lipid droplet size, growth in weight and length) after hatching under stable laboratory conditions (n = 12 batches). While larval survival and performance were independent of mtDNA fragmentation and cortisol levels, FA profiles affected specific larval traits. Especially, FA of the neutral fraction were positively correlated with larval size and growth (16:0, 18:0, 22:1n-9, total saturated FA), swim bladder inflation (arachidonic acid 20:4n-6, total FA), and early first feeding (16:0, 18:0, total saturated FA). Important FA of the polar fraction included 15:0 and 16:1n-7, which showed alternate effects on larval survival, first feeding, and growth (length). Furthermore, larval length at hatch was positively correlated with egg diameter. Other larval parameters (yolk sac and lipid droplet size and stress response) were not or only marginally affected by egg traits. Consequently, high oocyte FA deposition fuels fast rates of growth and development during early ontogeny. On the other hand, larvae develop independently of assumed disadvantageous properties (cortisol content, mtDNA damage). Knowledge of this relation allows for the improvement of aquaculture practice, as well as predicting recruitment success in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal and environmental effects can have profound effects on offspring performance by generating variation in offspring phenotypes, independent of genetic effects. Within avian broods, differential maternal investment of resources across the laying sequence is thought to be an adaptive strategy to modulate competitive hierarchies induced by hatching asynchrony. In this study, we evaluated the relative importance of maternally derived within-clutch variation and the asymmetric post-hatching environment for growth and survival of common tern (Sterna hirundo) siblings. We experimentally manipulated hatching order, resulting in chicks from last-laid eggs hatching first and vice versa. Although both initial age and size asymmetries were larger within experimental than control broods, the early survival of last-hatched chicks was similar between groups. Initial positive effects of egg size disappeared as siblings approached fledging. Ultimately at fledging, both within-brood growth and cumulative survival patterns were similar between experimental and control broods, suggesting that the effects of systematic variation of egg constituents (e.g., maternally derived yolk hormones) and egg size are too subtle and largely overwhelmed by the effects of hatching asynchrony. Therefore, we conclude that variation in offspring phenotypes is pre-dominantly determined by the social environment experienced post-hatching. Maternal effects may further fine-tune phenotypic variation in response to varying environmental conditions, but this needs to be tested through empirical studies in which multiple maternal effects are measured simultaneously under different environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging-related decline in fertility is an increasingly pressing medical and economic issue in modern society where women are delaying family building. Increasingly sophisticated, costly, and often increasingly invasive, assisted reproductive clinical protocols and laboratory technologies (ART) have helped many older women achieve their reproductive goals. Current ART procedures have not been able to address the fundamental problem of oocyte aging, the increased rate of egg aneuploidy, and the decline of developmental potential of the eggs. Oocyte maturation, which is triggered by luteinizing hormone (LH) in vivo or by injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic, is the critical stage at which the majority of egg aneuploidies arise and when much of an egg's developmental potential is established. Our proposed strategy focuses on improving egg quality in older women by restoring a robust oocyte maturation process. We have identified putrescine deficiency as one of the causes of poor egg quality in an aged mouse model. Putrescine is a biogenic polyamine naturally produced in peri-ovulatory ovaries. Peri-ovulatory putrescine supplementation has reduced egg aneuploidy, improved embryo quality, and reduced miscarriage rates in aged mice. In this paper, we review the literature on putrescine, its occurrence and physiology in living organisms, and its unique role in oocyte maturation. Preliminary human data demonstrates that there is a maternal aging-related deficiency in ovarian ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the enzyme responsible for putrescine production. We argue that peri-ovulatory putrescine supplementation holds great promise as a natural and effective therapy for infertility in women of advanced maternal age, applicable in natural conception and in combination with current ART therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) seed supplementation in laying hens diet based on rice bran on performance and egg quality. A total of 120 41-week-old Leghorn hens were randomly allotted to six treatment groups (four replicates of five hens each) with a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were composed of control diet (corn, soybean meal, and 15% rice bran) and different levels of purslane seed (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%), which were replaced with corn and soybean meal. The results of this study showed that egg production, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, shell weight, shell thickness, and yolk height were not significantly affected by different levels of purslane seed (P > 0.05). Yolk cholesterol was significantly decreased by increasing purslane seed (P < 0.05). Adding more than 15% purslane seed significantly increased albumen height and Haugh unit (P < 0.05). The hens were fed 15%, or more purslane seed laid eggs with significantly higher (P < 0.05) linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids (linolenic). By increasing purslane seed for more than 10%, the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 will be decreased (P < 0.05). Regression analysis of fatty acid content of yolk showed that the optimum effect of purslane seed on linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, linoleic acid, and omega-6/omega-3 of egg yolk was achieved by including 20 and 21% purslane seed to laying hens diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulvan extracted from the green seaweed Ulva was added in laying hen diets. The effect of ulvan on laying performance, egg quality, immunity function, and antioxidant capacity was evaluated using Hy-Line Brown hens. Six groups of birds (n = 864, 61 weeks old) were fed on the basal diet containing ulvan at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 0.8, and 1% for 8 weeks. The results were compared with the control group. Ulvan at concentrations of 0.1 to 1% can significantly improve the egg production (P < 0.05), and higher concentrations (1%) increased the egg weight and decreased feed conversion ratio of hens (P < 0.05). Ulvan at higher concentrations (0.8%, 1%) also helped to improve the eggshell strength (P < 0.05). Ulvan at concentrations of 0.5 to 1% leads to a yolk color to red tendency, and ulvan at concentrations 0.05 to 1% can significantly decrease cholesterol levels of yolk (P < 0.05). Treatments with high levels (1%) of ulvan showed a positive effect on interleukin-6 as well as 0.8% of ulvan on interferon-γ (P < 0.05). There are significant interactions (P < 0.05) on the time × ulvan level on total antioxidative capacity, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase levels of blood serum. These findings thus suggested that ulvan extract can be used as additives in diets for laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal condition can generate resource-related maternal effects through differential egg provisioning that can negatively affect offspring performance especially when offspring growth occurs in stressful or sub-optimal environments. Using the Speckled Wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria (L.) we tested the hypothesis that repeated periods of intensive flight during female oviposition affects egg provisioning and reduces offspring performance when larval development occurs under stressful conditions on drought stressed host plants. We investigated whether (after controlling for egg size) maternal age and flight treatment resulted in changes in egg provisioning and whether this contributed to variation in offspring traits across life stages. Age-related changes in maternal condition were found to generate resource-related maternal effects that influenced offspring traits across all life stages. Flight-induced changes in maternal egg provisioning were found to have direct consequences for offspring development in the egg and larval stages. There were significant interactive effects between maternal age and flight on larval development and growth. Compared to offspring from forced flight mothers, offspring from control (no forced flight) mothers that hatched from eggs laid early in the oviposition period (i.e. by younger mothers) had shorter larval development times and heavier pupal masses, suggesting that offspring from mothers in relatively good condition may be able to buffer some of the costs associated with growth on drought stressed host plants. Our multi-factor study demonstrates the importance of considering the various, and often interacting, mechanisms by which maternal effects may influence offspring performance in stressful environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated an aqueous extract of Duranta repens L. in the laboratory against the tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner, to determine its effect on adult mortality, viability of eggs, oviposition deterrence and repellent properties. We also evaluated the same extract in the field to determine its effect on mite populations. The direct spray method was used in the laboratory at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/l. Mortality of O. coffeae was dependent on both concentration and time after application. Deposition of eggs by adult mites on treated leaf surfaces decreased and the viability of eggs was also reduced. Its bioefficacy was comparable to that of the commonly used commercial neem oil formulation (azadirachtin 0.03EC). In addition, different concentrations of the aqueous extract of D. repens also exhibited repellent properties against adult mites. In the field, the application of the aqueous extract of D. repens reduced the mite population and its bioefficacy was comparable to that of the synthetic pesticide Propargite 57 EC. No phytotoxic effect was observed when tea bushes were sprayed with different concentrations of D. repens. Tea samples were taint free. Treatment of plants with the extract did not affect the quality (appearance of liquor, flavour, taint and taste) of made tea. Availability and distribution of this plant in and around tea growing areas of Assam, along with its processing, and the possibility of including D. repens extracts in the current IPM programme are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many phytophagous insects are agricultural pests, and control methods require accurate monitoring and decisions based on the determination of population age structure. The reproductive output (fecundity, egg size and percent egg hatch) is a central life history trait because it determines the offspring number, and temporal oviposition patterns are of primary importance in conditioning larval hatching and the occurrence of later larval instars in time. In turn, these phenomena determine the window for natural enemy attack and thus impact the context of biological control programmes. In addition, for most phytophagous insects, the quality of the host plants that larvae consume determines the insects' reproductive output. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the number of eggs laid, egg size and egg hatch percentage vary with female age and the cultivar on which females develop as larvae, as well as the temporal effects of these parameters. This determination was performed in laboratory experiments where larvae were reared on artificial diets based on dried fruits of seven cultivars. Our results showed that the cultivars had a significant effect on female temporal oviposition. Independent of the food tested, the numbers of oviposited eggs, their size and percent egg hatch decreased with daily oviposition rank. Such temporal patterns must be incorporated in age-structured mathematical models used in the design of control strategies. Temporal oviposition and variation in egg quality traits will also be useful in biological control programmes, especially when based on egg or larval parasitoids, which is thus discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of the effects of urbanization on bird demography has attracted much attention, and several studies found lower reproductive success in towns, which suggested strong environmental constraints. Here, we conducted a 3-year study to explore the consequences of urbanization on the breeding success of two species that originated in forests, the Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus and the Great Tit Parus major. In two replicates of urban and forest habitats, we studied the components of reproductive success. In one replicate of each habitat, we quantified nestling growth over the three breeding seasons, and we collected data on egg quality during one breeding season. The general picture that emerges from our finding is that in urban sites breeding success was lower with smaller clutch sizes, higher clutch, higher brood failure rates and lower survival rates. Our results also showed reduced growth in urban habitats, at the embryonic and nestling stages, with potential adverse consequences on fitness. Crucial ecological factors could explain the observed contrasts between the habitats, and food limitation is among the most likely. Overall, we demonstrated the negative effects of urbanization on the reproductive success of forest birds, and our results were consistent between species and geographic areas for these negative effects. Our results suggest a mismatch between urban environments and the habitat exploitation abilities that birds have evolved in their native forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding peppermint essential oil (PEO), thyme essential oil (TEO), or their combination to diet on productive performance, egg quality traits, and blood parameters of laying hens reared under cold stress condition (6.8 ± 3 °C). Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg weight (EW), egg production (EP), and egg mass (EM) were evaluated during the 56-day trial period using 120 Lohmann LSL-lite laying hens. Significant interactions between PEO and TEO on FCR, EP, and EM were observed ( P < 0.05). The EP and EM increased, whereas FCR decreased ( P < 0.05) in the hens fed the diets supplemented by the combined form of PEO and TEO compared to those fed the basal diet. Also, increased EW and FI were observed in the laying hens fed the diet added by PEO compared to the birds fed the basal diet. There were significant interactions between PEO and TEO on the serum level of cholesterol, shell thickness, and Hough unit of egg ( P < 0.05), so that serum content of cholesterol decreased, but egg shell thickness and Hough unit increased in the hens fed the diet supplemented by the combined form of PEO and TEO compared to those fed the basal diet. From the results of the present experiment, it can be concluded that diet supplementation by combined form of PEO and TEO could have beneficial effects on performance parameters of hens reared under cold stress condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding zinc (Zn), cinnamon essential oil (Ci), or their combination in diet on productive performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of laying hens reared under cold stress condition (8.8 ± 3 °C). Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg weight (EW), egg production (EP), and egg mass (EM) were evaluated during the 56-day trial period using 120 Lohmann LSL-Lite laying hens. Significant interactions between Ci and Zn on FCR, EW, EP, or EM were observed ( P < 0.05). The EP, EM, and EW increased, whereas FCR decreased ( P < 0.05) in the hens fed the diets including Ci and Zn (as single or combined form) compared to those fed the basal diet. There were significant interactions between Ci and Zn on the serum level of glucose and triglycerides as well as plasma concentration of zinc ( P < 0.05), so that serum content of glucose and triglyceride decreased and the plasma content of zinc increased in the hens fed the diets including Ci and Zn (together) compared to those fed the basal diet. From the results of the present experiment, it can be concluded that diet supplementation by the combined form of Ci and Zn could have beneficial effects on performance and blood parameters of hens reared under cold stress condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproductive and general health of exploited fish stocks is an essential element of sustainable and profitable fisheries. The main purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between reproduction and two important parameters of fish health (parasitism and energy reserves) in female specimens of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, from the western Mediterranean Sea. We present new data for this species on (i) the prevalence and intensity of infection by metazoan parasites; (ii) the total lipid content in muscle and gonads as a measure of condition and (iii) fecundity and egg quality as a measure of their reproductive capacity. The results show that M. barbatus is a batch spawner with an income breeding strategy, an asynchronous development of oocytes and indeterminate fecundity. The results also indicate that the three most abundant and prevalent parasites significantly affect the condition and reproduction of M. barbatus. Specifically, the digenean, Opecoeloides furcatus, causes a reduction in the female's energy reserves, while the nematodes, Hysterothylacium fabri and H. aduncum, produce a rise in egg production but impair egg quality. These implications of the relationships between parasitism, fish health and fish reproduction should be taken into consideration in the assessment and management of exploited species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of pulsed light (up to 26.25 J/cm) on the inactivation of Salmonella enterica and on the eventual occurrence of undesirable changes in the quality of fresh egg pasta just after preparation and during storage at 4 °C. When S. enterica was inoculated on egg pasta surface, a light dose of 0.70 J/cm sufficed to lower counts by 2.5 log units while 3.50 J/cm were required for a 3.3 log unit reduction (below detection limit). For S. enterica inoculated in the dough, a light dose of 3.50 J/cm lowered counts by only 1.0 log unit while 17.50 J/cm were required for a 3.3 log unit reduction, due to the limited light penetration through egg pasta. At a dose of 1.75 J/cm, pulsed light induced no significant changes in egg pasta appearance, oxidation state and sensory properties. At higher doses, off-flavour formation was detected. Independently of the dose applied, pulsed light did not induce furan formation and promoted an increase in the oxidative stability of egg pasta lipids as well as pigment bleaching during storage. The latter was attributed to the formation of photo-induced non-enzymatic browning products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to test whether environmental conditions including the trophic habitat and diet impact the biochemical composition of storage organs and affect the nutritional quality of eggs of Octopus vulgaris. Trophic habitat and gonad quality of neighbouring populations off the Portuguese coast, subject to different oceanographic regimes, were compared using the digestive gland and beaks as recorders of trophic and habitat preferences, and gonads as indicators of egg quality. Cholesterol, phospholipids and triacylglycerol content, essential fatty acid (EFA) profile of the digestive gland and stable isotopes, δN and δC, in the buccal mass flesh and beaks were indicators of the differences in the trophic habitat between populations. For gonad quality, the same bio-indicators were used to identify differences with maturation. The study shows that, although diet influences the EFA profile of the gonads to a certain degree, the main lipid content, phospholipids and cholesterol content in the gonads are not influenced by habitat conditions. This, therefore, suggests that O. vulgaris is able to influence the quality of egg content independent of diet. The species is believed to be an income breeder which attains maturity upon reaching a sufficient condition level, then channelling energy directly from food to gonad development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]