Ectoparasitic sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) affect behavior and brain serotonergic activity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): Perspectives on animal welfare.

Scientific research and public debate on the welfare of animals in human custody is increasing at present. Fish are in this context mentioned with particular attention to the high numbers of individuals reared in aquaculture. Research on fish has also contributed to the understanding of individual variation in the ability to cope with stress and disease.

Systems integrity in health and aging - an animal model approach.

Human lifespan is positively correlated with childhood intelligence, as measured by psychometric (IQ) tests. The strength of this correlation is similar to the negative effect that smoking has on the life course. This result suggests that people who perform well on psychometric tests in childhood may remain healthier and live longer.

Hydroperoxide formation in different lean meats.

Peroxide is one of the compounds that are indicated to be toxic in the human digestion system. Lean fresh meat samples were collected from beef, lamb, pork and chicken to investigate their hydroperoxide formation potential. Total peroxides of fresh comminuted raw meat were determined by analysing protein-bound peroxides and hydroperoxide compounds in water-methanol and chloroform extracted phases.

Effect of intermittent feeding, structural components and phytase on performance and behaviour of broiler chickens.

1. Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of intermittent feeding on performance and the efficacy of an exogenous phytase, and to assess whether intermittent feeding changed the activity pattern of broiler chickens. 2.

Ecological risk assessment of Central Asian mining sites: application of the ERICA assessment tool.

Recent field expeditions to Central Asian mining sites have provided a wealth of data on radionuclide and metal concentrations in environmental media. In this paper the ERICA assessment tool was used to provide an assessment of the potential doses to non-human biota at the various sites. The aim was to identify the most exposed organism types and the radionuclides giving rise to the greatest doses.

Accelerating improvement of livestock with genomic selection.

Three recent breakthroughs have resulted in the current widespread use of DNA information: the genomic selection (GS) methodology, which is a form of marker-assisted selection on a genome-wide scale, and the discovery of large numbers of single-nucleotide markers and cost effective methods to genotype them. GS estimates the effect of thousands of DNA markers simultaneously. Nonlinear estimation methods yield higher accuracy, especially for traits with major genes.

Draft genome sequence of the methane-oxidizing bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas).

Methanotrophic bacteria perform major roles in global carbon cycles via their unique enzymatic activities that enable the oxidation of one-carbon compounds, most notably methane. Here we describe the annotated draft genome sequence of the aerobic methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas), a type strain originally isolated from sewer sludge.

Effects of replacing fish meal with soy cake in a diet based on urea-treated rice straw on performance of growing Laisind beef cattle.

The present study was to test if different ratios of fish meal to soy cake as protein supplements in the diet are not significantly different in effects on feed intakes and performance of growing beef cattle fed urea-treated rice straw (URTRS) as basal diet under local conditions in North Vietnam. Thirty-six male cattle of Laisind (50% local Yellow cattle and 50% Sindhi, both Bos indicus) at around 12 months of age with an average live weight of 124 ± 12 kg at start were used in six groups of the experiment. Six diets named A, B, C, D, E, and F used in the experiment were similar in crude protein (CP) level, except for diet A with no supplementation, but different in fish meal/soy cake ratio based on CP content as follows: diet A 0/0, diet B 100/0, diet C 75/25, diet D 50/50, diet E 25/75, and diet F 0/100.

A migratory northern ungulate in the pursuit of spring: jumping or surfing the green wave?

The forage-maturation hypothesis (FMH) states that herbivores migrate along a phenological gradient of plant development in order to maximize energy intake. Despite strong support for the FMH, the actual relationship between plant phenology and ungulate movement has remained enigmatic. We linked plant phenology (MODIS-normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI] data) and space use of 167 migratory and 78 resident red deer (Cervus elaphus), using a space-time-time matrix of "springness," defined as the instantaneous rate of green-up.

Trace element mobility and transfer to vegetation within the Ethiopian Rift Valley lake areas.

To evaluate critical trace element loads in native vegetation and calculate soil-to-plant transfer factors (TFs), 11 trace elements (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Pb and Mn) have been determined in leaves of 9 taxonomically verified naturally growing terrestrial plant species as well as in soil samples collected around 3 Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes (Koka, Ziway and Awassa). The Cr concentration in leaves of all the plant species was higher than the "normal" range, with the highest level (8.4 mg per kg dw) being observed in Acacia tortilis from the Lake Koka area.

Environmental impact assessment of radionuclide and metal contamination at the former U site at Kadji Sai, Kyrgyzstan.

During 1949-1967, a U mine, a coal-fired thermal power plant and a processing plant for the extraction of U from the produced ash were operated at the Kadji Sai U mining site in Tonsk district, Issyk-Kul County, Kyrgyzstan. The Kadji Sai U legacy site represents a source of contamination of the local environment by naturally occurring radionuclides and associated trace elements. To assess the environmental impact of radionuclides and trace metals at the site, field expeditions were performed in 2007 and 2008 by the Joint collaboration between Norway, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (JNKKT) project and the NATO SfP RESCA project.

Novel Podoviridae family bacteriophage infecting Weissella cibaria isolated from Kimchi.

The first complete genome sequence of a phage infecting Weissella cibaria (Weissella kimchii) is presented. The bacteriophage YS61 was isolated from kimchi, a Korean fermented vegetable dish. Bacteriophages are recognized as a serious problem in industrial fermentations; however, YS61 differed from many virulent phages associated with food fermentations since it was difficult to propagate and was very susceptible to resistance development.

Characterization of a Leuconostoc bacteriophage infecting flavor producers of cheese starter cultures.

Dairy siphovirus φLmd1, which infects starter culture isolate Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum A1, showed resistance to pasteurization and was able to grow on 3 of the 4 commercial starter cultures tested. Its 26,201-bp genome was similar to that of Leuconostoc phage of vegetable origin but not to those of dairy phages infecting Lactococcus.

Environmental impact assessment of radionuclides and trace elements at the Kurday U mining site, Kazakhstan.

The Kurday uranium mining site in Kazakhstan operated from 1954 to 1965 as part of the USSR nuclear weapon programme. To assess the environmental impact of radionuclides and trace elements associated with the Kurday mining site, field expeditions were performed in 2006. In addition to in situ gamma and (220)Rn dose rate measurements, sampling included at site fractionation of water as well as sampling of water, fish, sediment, soils and vegetation.

Novel enzymes for the degradation of cellulose.

The bulk terrestrial biomass resource in a future bio-economy will be lignocellulosic biomass, which is recalcitrant and challenging to process. Enzymatic conversion of polysaccharides in the lignocellulosic biomass will be a key technology in future biorefineries and this technology is currently the subject of intensive research. We describe recent developments in enzyme technology for conversion of cellulose, the most abundant, homogeneous and recalcitrant polysaccharide in lignocellulosic biomass.

Uranium activity ratio in water and fish from pit lakes in Kurday, Kazakhstan and Taboshar, Tajikistan.

Kurday in Kazhakstan and Taboshar in Tajikistan were U mining sites operated during the 1950s and 1960s as part of the USSR nuclear weapon program. Today, they represent sources of potential U contamination of the environment. Within both mining sites, open pits from which U ore was extracted have been filled with water due to ground water inflow and precipitation.

Environmental impact assessment of radionuclide and metal contamination at the former U sites Taboshar and Digmai, Tajikistan.

Uranium (U) ore mining and processing were initiated in the former Soviet Republics of Tajikistan after the Second World War as part of the USSR nuclear weapon programme. The U mine in Taboshar was opened in 1936, and mining took place from 1945 to 1965, while the Digmai tailings dump was exploited during 1963-1993. The mining, milling and extraction activities have resulted in large amounts of waste rock deposits and U tailing materials placed in the vicinity of inhabited areas.

Oxidative properties of lactoferrins of different iron-saturation in an emulsion consisting of metmyoglobin and cod liver oil.

Lactoferrins (LFs) at iron-saturation 8 (native) and 100%, respectively, were present in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion composed of 5% (w/v) cod liver oil (CLO) and metmyoglobin (metMb) in 50mM phosphate buffer at pH 6.0. Initially both LFs acted as antioxidants and reduced initial peroxide formation, but after 48h holo LF revealed the most peroxides but the least trienes.

Exploration of multivariate analysis in microbial coding sequence modeling.

Background: Gene finding is a complicated procedure that encapsulates algorithms for coding sequence modeling, identification of promoter regions, issues concerning overlapping genes and more. In the present study we focus on coding sequence modeling algorithms; that is, algorithms for identification and prediction of the actual coding sequences from genomic DNA. In this respect, we promote a novel multivariate method known as Canonical Powered Partial Least Squares (CPPLS) as an alternative to the commonly used Interpolated Markov model (IMM).

A vitellogenin polyserine cleavage site: highly disordered conformation protected from proteolysis by phosphorylation.

Vitellogenin (Vg) is an egg-yolk precursor protein in most oviparous species. In honeybee (Apis mellifera), the protein (AmVg) also affects social behavior and life-span plasticity. Despite its manifold functions, the AmVg molecule remains poorly understood.

Relevance of calpain and calpastatin activity for texture in super-chilled and ice-stored Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fillets.

The aim of the present experiment was to measure the protease activities in ice-stored and super-chilled Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets, and the effect on texture. Pre-rigour fillets of Atlantic salmon were either super-chilled to a core temperature of -1.5°C or directly chilled on ice prior to 144h of ice storage.

Relating fatty acid composition in human fingertip blood to age, gender, nationality and n-3 supplementation in the Scandinavian population.

This study investigated data obtained from whole blood fatty acid (FA) composition of 3476 Norwegian and Swedish individuals, which provided background information including age, gender, nationality and self-motivated n-3 supplement consumption. The aim of this paper was to statistically relate this background information on the subjects to their whole blood FA profile, focusing mainly on the n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Results showed that age had significant effects on the content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in blood lipids for the Norwegian individuals, while n-3 PUFA supplementation had a positive effect on EPA and DHA content in whole blood for the investigated population.

Po-210 and Pb-210 in water and fish from Taboshar uranium mining Pit Lake, Tajikistan.

Polonium-210 in water and (210)Pb and (210)Po in different fish organs from 3 different fish species in Taboshar Pit Lake (n = 13), located in the uranium mining area in Tajikistan, and in Kairakkum Reservoir (reference lake, n = 3), have been determined as part of a Joint project between Norway, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The average activity concentration of (210)Pb and (210)Po in liver, muscle and bone of Carassius auratus was higher than the concentration in similar tissues of C. carpio and Sander lucioperca from the reference site.

Regulation of denitrification at the cellular level: a clue to the understanding of N2O emissions from soils.

Denitrifying prokaryotes use NO(x) as terminal electron acceptors in response to oxygen depletion. The process emits a mixture of NO, N(2)O and N(2), depending on the relative activity of the enzymes catalysing the stepwise reduction of NO(3)(-) to N(2)O and finally to N(2). Cultured denitrifying prokaryotes show characteristic transient accumulation of NO(2)(-), NO and N(2)O during transition from oxic to anoxic respiration, when tested under standardized conditions, but this character appears unrelated to phylogeny.

Aging and soil organic matter content affect the fate of silver nanoparticles in soil.

Sewage sludge application on soils represents an important potential source of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to terrestrial ecosystems, and it is thus important to understand the fate of Ag NPs once in contact with soil components. Our aim was to compare the behavior of three different forms of silver, namely silver nitrate, citrate stabilized Ag NPs (5nm) and uncoated Ag NPs (19nm), in two soils with contrasting organic matter content, and to follow changes in binding strength over time. Soil samples were spiked with silver and left to age for 2h, 2 days, 5 weeks or 10 weeks before they were submitted to sequential extraction.