Construction, characterization and chromosomal mapping of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti)

We constructed a high redundancy bacterial artificial chromosome library of a seriously endangered Old World Monkey, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) from China. This library contains a total of 136 320 BAC clones. The average insert size of BAC clones was estimated to be 148 kb. The percentage of small inserts (50-100 kb) is 2.74%, and only 2.67% non-recombinant clones were observed. Assuming a similar genome size with closely related primate species, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey BAC library has at least six times the genome coverage. By end sequencing of randomly selected BAC clones, we generated 201 sequence tags for the library. A total of 139 end-sequenced BAC clones were mapped onto the chromosomes of Yunnan snub-nosed monkey by fluorescence in-situ hybridization, demonstrating a high degree of synteny conservation between humans and Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys. Blast search against human genome showed a good correlation between the number of hit clones and the size of the chromosomes, an indication of unbiased chromosomal distribution of the BAC library. This library and the mapped BAC clones will serve as a valuable resource in comparative genomics studies and large-scale genome sequencing of nonhuman primates. The DNA sequence data reported in this paper were deposited in GenBank and assigned the accession number CG891489-CG891703.

Development of artificial breeding techniques for long-whiskered catfish, Sperata aor and giant river catfish, Sperata seenghala of Bangladesh

Sperata aor and S. seenghala are the two important native catfishes of Bangladesh but commercial farming of these species is not possible due to lack of naturally collected or artificially produced seeds for stocking. Attempts were made to develop techniques for seed production by artificial breeding and nursery-rearing of fries of these catfishes. A total of 60 S. seenghala (750-1,500 g) and 10 S. aor (600-1,000 g) broods were collected from the Brahmaputra river-basin and floodplains in Mymensingh region four months prior to their breeding season. The collected brood fishes were reared in separate earthen ponds with supplementary feeds comprising of rice bran (40%), mustard oil cake (29%), fish meal (30%) and vitamin-premix (1 %). Three experiments were conducted to optimize the hormone dose. A total of nine S. seenghala females weighing from 750 to 1,500 g were given an initial and resolving dose of 12-20 and 16-24 mg PG/kg body weight, respectively. The males weighing from 650-950 g were administered a single dose of 18-26 mg PG/kg body weight at the time of the time of administering the resolving dose to the females. The females ovulated partially and the eggs were examined under a compound microscope, but most of them were found to be less ripe or damaged. Collection of milt by stripping the males was not successful. The testes were taken out and sperm were observed to be non-motile and less developed. In view of stimulating natural propagation of S. seenghala, artificial holes (nests) were constructed in the pond bottom. Each hole was 0.7 m in diameter and 0.3 m in depth. A total of 10 holes were made and then 10 pairs of S. seenghala breeders (800-1,200 g) were stocked in the pond. In mid February, 3,000 fry of S. seenghala with a mean length of 4.60 cm and weight of 0.36 g were collected by repeated netting followed by drying of the pond. The fry were then stocked in a nursery pond and fed with commercial feed (SABINCO starter-1). The average length and weight of the fingerlings were 9.01 cm and 3.95 g, respectively and the estimated survival was 60% after two months of rearing. S. aor did not respond to natural spawning. Further study is essential to develop techniques for their successful artificial and natural breeding.

Reproductive biology, artificial propagation and larval rearing of two freshwater eels, Monopterus cuchia and Mastacembelus armatus

Studies on reproductive biology and artificial propagation including larval rearing of freshwater mud eel, Monopterus cuchia and spiny eel, Mastacembelus armatus were attempted. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of mud eel ranged from 0.41 (August) to 5.52 (June) in males and 0.53 (August) to 7.61 (June) in females. In both cases the GSI showed a peak in June. Fecundity ranged from 228 (TL - 396 mm; W - 78g) to 5510 (TL - 865 mm; W - 630 g). In case of spiny eel, the GSI varied from 0.65 (August) to 8.30 (July) in males and 0.70 (August) to 10.46 (July) in females. GSI showed single peak in July. Fecundity ranged from 570 (TL - 240 mm; W - 30 g) to 10870 (TL - 601; W - 350g). Histology of the testes and ovaries of the eels were carried out to investigate the gonadal development stages during the reproductive months (August to November 2003). In case of male M. cuchia, the secondary primordial germ cells, primary spermatogonium, some spermatogonia A and clone of spermatogonium B in testis were observed in September. In October-males different sized lobules having spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids were observed. In the ovary of M. cuchia, polygonal shaped oocytes were seen during September. The oogonia were reduced with dense and irregular shaped during October. Numerous pycnotic cells were visible during November. In male M. armatus numerous broken lobule walls were found in testes during September. In October, abundant primary germ cells, pycnotic nests of degenerating cells, spermatogonia and spermatids were observed. In females, ovaries had distinct yolk vesicles stage and yolk granules stages in August. In September, the follicular cells of the oogonia were ruptured, shrunk forming irregular shaped in October. Oogonia were also shrunk with thin, irregular shaped structure but broken parts of the ruptured follicular cells were scattered in case of M. armatus. Experimental attempts on artificial propagation indicated that both freshwater eels were difficult to breed using inducing agents like pituitary glands (PG) of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 150 mg per kg of body weight. Same doses were used for both sexes with equal sex-ratio. In both cases, brood fish died at higher doses of injection given at 100 and 150 mg PG/kg bodyweight. However, M. cuchia breed naturally in cisterns when provided with water hyacinths and tunnel in muddy bottom. M. cuchia fed with chopped cooked fish attained a mean weight of 18.75 ± 2.3 g and cent percent survival. While in case of M. armatus best growth by weight (12.0 ± 2.48 g) and cent percent survival were achieved using chopped raw fish. Car tyre was observed as best shelter for attaining the mean weight gain 22.53 ± 2.24 g and cent percent survival of M. cuchia. While PVC pipe was found to be the best shelter for M. armatus, where it attained the mean weight of 12.73 ± 1.88 g and cent percent survival.

Partial replacement of fishmeal protein by soybean meal protein in the diet of mrigal, Cirrhinus cirrhosus (Ham.) fry

To find out a suitable balance diet for Cirrhinus. cirrhosus fry substituting fish meal protein by full-fat soybean meal protein as dietary protein source for C. cirrhosus fry (1.29g) was studied in 12 aquaria for 60 days. The fishes were fed with four iso-nitrogenous (30% protein) and iso-caloric experimental diets viz. diet 1 (100% fish meal protein), diet 2 (75% fishmeal protein and 25% soybean meal protein), diet 3 (50% fishmeal protein and 50% soybean meal protein) and diet 4 (25% fish meal protein and 75% soybean meal protein). Among the diets the best growth, FCR and PER were obtained with diet 3 fed fishes and no significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between diet 1 and 2 and diet 4 offered the worst performance. Therefore, considering fish growth, FCR and PER, it can be suggested that fish meal protein might be replaced 50% by soybean meal protein in the diet of C. cirrhosus fry for better growth.

Self-assembled artificial pinning centres in thick YBCO superconducting films

Strong, artificial pinning centres are required in superconducting films of large thickness for power applications in high magnetic fields. One of the methods for the introduction of pinning centres in such films is substrate decoration, i.e., growing nanoscale islands of certain materials on the substrate prior to the deposition of the superconducting film. Two other methods are building up a layered distribution of a second phase and homogeneous incorporation of second phase inclusions from a compositional target. In this paper, we compare the effectiveness of these methods in terms of the type of the self-assembly of nanoparticles. The comparison is made over a large set of YBa2Cu3O7 films of thickness up to 6.6 μm deposited with Au, Ag, Pd, LaNiO3, PrBa2Cu 3O7, YBCO, BaZrO3 and Gd2Ba 4CuWOy nanoparticles. It is found that substrate-decoration self-assembly is able to provide higher critical current in low magnetic field than the incorporation of homogeneous second phase in the sample microstructure. By specific modification of substrate decoration we achieved the self-field critical current per centimetre of width of 896 A/cm at 77.3 K and 1620 A/cm at 65 K in a film of thickness of 4.8 μm. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Effect of zinc and manganese supplementation to tricalcium phosphate rich diet for tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes)

Effects of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) supplementation to a tricalcium phosphate (TCP) rich diet for tiger puffer have been investigated. A TCP supplement to the diet decreased the growth of fish compared to the control diet with a Ca supplementation from Ca-lactate. However, addition of either Zn or Mn to the TCP supplemented diet could not improve the growth of tiger puffer. Addition of both zinc and manganese to the TCP supplemented diet improved the growth of tiger puffer.

Natural diet of penaeid prawns in the coastal waters of Mumbai

Foregut contents of eight commercially important species of penaied prawns namely Penaeus merguiensis, Metapenaeus affinis, M. monoceros, M. brevicornis, Parapenaeopsis stylifera, P. hardwickii, P. sculptilis and Solenocera crassicornis were investigated from inshore, nearshore and offshore fishing grounds of Mumbai. Feeding intensity and index of preponderance (IP) of the dietary items were compared statistically for the species, sexes, fishing areas and maturity condition of females. All the species except M. monoceros and P. sculptilis showed that females were better fed than males. The feeding intensity in the three depth-zones was different for M. affinis, M. brevicornis, M. monoceros, P. hardwickii and S. crassicornis, and uniform for P. merguiensis, P. stylifera and P. sculptilis. Acetes spp., prawn remains, polychaetes, benthic crustaceans, foraminifers and fish remains were the important food items of the prawns. Dietary comparison between the two sexes of the species did not show any difference, but mature females of M. monoceros and P. sculptilis had different diets. Comparison of food items for all the species together showed significant difference between the three areas. Crustacean diet was the favorite in the inshore and nearshore, and polychaetes in the offshore waters. All the species except P. hardwickii showed difference in their dietary composition in the three depth-zones. It is concluded that these coexisting species are primarily carnivorous and exhibit diverse food preferences in different depth-zones by browsing on interstitial organisms, chasing epipelagic prey, raptorial predation, scavenging on dead organisms or adopting different temporal abundance to avoid inter-specific competition for food.

Introduction to the development of an information management system for soil mix technology using artificial neural networks

This paper introduces current work in collating data from different projects using soil mix technology and establishing trends using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Variation in unconfined compressive strength as a function of selected soil mix variables (e.g., initial soil water content and binder dosage) is observed through the data compiled from completed and on-going soil mixing projects around the world. The potential and feasibility of ANNs in developing predictive models, which take into account a large number of variables, is discussed. The main objective of the work is the management and effective utilization of salient variables and the development of predictive models useful for soil mix technology design. Based on the observed success in the predictions made, this paper suggests that neural network analysis for the prediction of properties of soil mix systems is feasible. © ASCE 2011.

Effect of sublethal concentration of artificial seawater on oxygen uptake and opercular frequency in an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.)

The present study reports the effect of artificial seawater on oxygen uptake and opercular frequency in an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita. Whereas a control fish of 7.34 g average body weight consumed 1.538 ml O sub(2.) hˉ¹, the 24h and 96h exposed fish of the same body weight consumed 1.07 4 and 0.897 ml O sub(2.) hˉ¹, respectively. The oxygen uptake per unit body weight under controlled condition was 0.219 ml. gˉ¹. hˉ¹, whereas in 24h and 96h exposed fish, it was 0.152 and 0.124 ml. gˉ¹, hˉ¹, respectively. The change in opercular movement in 24h exposed fish was 7.67% higher, whereas in 96h exposed fish, it was 22.43% higher as compared to the control one. All changes are highly significant (p<0.001).

Substitution of live feed by formulated diet: effect on the growth and survival of Betta splendens (Regan) fry

The present work evaluates the effectiveness of partial or total replacement of live feed (LF) (Tubifex) together with formulated diet (FD) for Betta splendens. Three hundred Betta splendens fry of uniform size (mean weight 0.19±0.01g) were equally distributed in five treatment groups with three replicates in glass aquaria of 351itre capacity. Fishes were given diets at different ratio of LF and FD viz. T1(C) 100% LF; T2 75% LF, 25% FD; T3 50% LF, 50% FD; T4 25% LF, 75% FD and T5 100% FD and the experiment continued for 105 days. T2 group registered highest (P<0.05) % body weight gain (125.61±0.26) and specific growth rate (2.34±0.02), which was similar to T1 and T3 groups. Lowest FCR was recorded in T2 (2.40±0.11) group, which was similar to Tl, T3 and T4 groups. Highest (P<0.05) PER was observed in T4 (1.00±0.03) group, which was similar to T3 and T5 groups. At the end of experiment, highest % survival was recoded in T1, T2 and T3 groups (96.67±1.67), which was similar to T4 group. From the study, it is concluded that LF can be successfully replaced up to 75% by FD without any adverse effect on the growth and survival of Betta splendens.

Microbiological evaluation and keeping quality of fishes reared in livestock sewage fed ponds without artificial feed

Livestock sewage has been utilized for fish culture. There is lack of information on microbiological evaluation and keeping quality of these fishes. This paper reveals the incidence, types of micro-organisms and keeping quality of fishes reared in livestock sewage fed ponds without artificial feed. These fishes revealed microbial incidence and keeping quality comparable to other fishes. Initial mesophilic and psychrophilic counts varied from 3.38 to 5.56 and 2.47 to 4.74. On an average, the counts reduced by about 40% after evisceration and washing. Whole as well as washed fishes had refrigerated (8 ± 1°C) life of not more than 4 days. The average psychrophilic and mesophilic counts of ice (0 to 1°C) stored whole fishes up to 10th day varied from 3.66 to 4.81, 4.61 to 5.24 and in eviscerated and washed fishes 2.17 to 3.69 and 2.78 to 4.41. Both remained acceptable till the 10th day. Qualitative study of surface slime and gills revealed presence of Aerobacter (Enterobacter), Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Clostridia, E. coli, Klebsiella, Micrococci, Proteus and Pseudomonas.

Effect of oxidation of dietary fish lipids on the quality of proteins in diet

The paper reports results of a study on the effect of oxidised fish oil in the diet on the quality of dietary fish proteins. With increased oxidation of oil, digestibility and utilization of the protein registered a decrease. Oxidation of fish oil beyond a stage was found to affect the intake of diet itself and rats lost weight rapidly.

Tensile strength properties of polyethylene netting twines under exposure to out-door and artificial UV radiation

Photodegradation of three types of polyethylene twines namely, polyethylene fibrillated tape twine, polyethylene flat tape twine and polyethylene monofilament twines were studied by exposing them to sunlight and artificial UV radiation. The percentage residual strength varied in the samples, the monofilament with the highest residual strength followed by fibrillated tape twine and flat tape twine. A plot of the difference between the breaking strengths of the fibrillated tape twine and the mono filament twines against any given period of exposure exhibited a linear relationship