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14 pages, 1998 KiB  
Article
Effects of Dietary Yeast Culture Supplementation on Growth Performance, Digestive Function, and Intestinal Health of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
by Zheng Huang, Dingrui Mo, Xifeng Liu, Yuanfa He, Li Luo, Shimei Lin and Yongjun Chen
Microorganisms 2025, 13(7), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071671 - 16 Jul 2025
Viewed by 280
Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC) supplementation on growth performance, digestive function, intestinal inflammatory response, and microbiota composition of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (LMB). Six diets were formulated with graded levels of YC (0, 5, 10, [...] Read more.
This study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC) supplementation on growth performance, digestive function, intestinal inflammatory response, and microbiota composition of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (LMB). Six diets were formulated with graded levels of YC (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 g/kg), referred to as CON, YC5, YC10, YC15, YC20, and YC30, respectively. Each diet was assigned to four replicate tanks of LMB juveniles (initial body weight 8.11 ± 0.05 g) with twenty fish per tank. After an 8-week feeding trial, final body weight and specific growth rate showed an increasing trend with 5~20 g/kg YC and reached a maximum at 15 g/kg YC. Feeding ratio decreased, but feed efficiency ratio (FER) improved in response to dietary YC inclusion, and FER was higher in the YC10 fish than in the YC5, YC20, and YC30 fish. Proximate composition (moisture, protein, and lipid) of the whole fish was not affected by dietary YC levels. The activities of intestinal lipase and trypsin were higher in the YC10 fish, while the relative expression of interleukin-8 (il-8) and il-1β was downregulated in the hindgut of the YC15 fish compared with the CON fish. Histological examination showed that the villus height of the midgut, together with goblet cell density of the foregut and midgut, was higher in the YC10 and YC30 fish than in the CON fish. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Firmicutes dominated the intestinal microbiota in LMB. The decrease in harmful Mycoplasma accounted for the dramatic change in Firmicutes abundance, while the increase in Cetobacterium (specifically C. somerae) accounted for the change in Fusobacteria abundance in the gut of the YC10 and YC30 fish compared with the CON fish. The increase in the beneficial Endozoicomonas was the main reason for the change in Proteobacteria abundance in the intestine of the YC30 fish as compared with the CON fish. Taken together, the alteration of intestinal microbiota composition contributed to the improved digestive function and feed utilization in LMB fed YC-supplemented diets. Based on growth performance, the optimal YC level in the diet for LMB was 15 g/kg. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiome in Fish and Their Living Environment)
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20 pages, 1721 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Impact of Arginine-to-Lysine Ratios on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Defense, and Immune Modulation in Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by Yulong Sun, Shuailiang Zhang, Xueyao Luan, Tao Liu, Jiale He, Jiteng Wang and Tao Han
Animals 2025, 15(13), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15131947 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 430
Abstract
This study examines the impact of the arginine/lysine ratio in feed on the growth, serum amino acids, arginine metabolism, and antioxidant capacity of juvenile largemouth bass (5.95 ± 0.02 g). Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with varying arginine/lysine ratios were formulated and administered [...] Read more.
This study examines the impact of the arginine/lysine ratio in feed on the growth, serum amino acids, arginine metabolism, and antioxidant capacity of juvenile largemouth bass (5.95 ± 0.02 g). Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with varying arginine/lysine ratios were formulated and administered over an eight-week period. The results indicated that the treatments had no significant effect on protein efficiency ratio (PER), daily feed intake (DFI), or morphological indices of juvenile largemouth bass (p > 0.05). When the arginine/lysine ratio was 0.85 (2.25/2.65; 2.54/3.00), liver antioxidant capacity was maximized, and inflammatory factors were suppressed. Conversely, a ratio of 2.25/2.99 significantly reduced weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) in juvenile largemouth bass, inhibited arginase activity, and increased serum total nitric oxide synthase (T-NOS) activity. When lysine was in excess (2.25/2.99 group), elevating arginine content (2.54/3.00 group) enhanced growth, antioxidant, and immune performance. Analysis of glutathione metabolism and innate immune-related pathway revealed that an optimal arginine/lysine ratio mitigates inflammatory damage induced by oxidative stress. An arginine/lysine imbalance significantly elevated liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content while reducing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and glutathione (GSH) content, thereby increasing the expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL1B, IL8, TGFB1, BAX). These findings demonstrate that an imbalance in arginine/lysine adversely affects the growth, metabolism, and antioxidant capacity of largemouth bass. When lysine is in excess, increasing the arginine content to achieve an arginine/lysine ratio of 0.85 alleviates the negative effects of antagonism, suggesting arginine supplementation may regulate oxidative damage caused by lysine excess. Full article
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14 pages, 2902 KiB  
Article
Low-Melting Mixtures Based on Lactic Acid with Choline Chloride or Betaine as Green Media for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Leaves
by Anna Aniskevich, Alena Koigerova, Artemiy Samarov, Oleg Matusevich and Nikita Tsvetov
Processes 2025, 13(6), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13061774 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 703
Abstract
Environmentally friendly extraction technologies for biologically active substances (BASs) are an actively developing and important industry. In recent years, the development of this area has been associated with the use of low-melting mixtures, which are most often referred to as “deep eutectic solvents”. [...] Read more.
Environmentally friendly extraction technologies for biologically active substances (BASs) are an actively developing and important industry. In recent years, the development of this area has been associated with the use of low-melting mixtures, which are most often referred to as “deep eutectic solvents”. Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. is a valuable source of phenolic biologically active compounds. However, to date, there are limited studies devoted to the use of such solvents for the extraction of biologically active substances from V. vitis-idaea. This study introduces the use of low-melting mixtures of choline chloride or betaine with lactic acid and water for the ultrasonic extraction of phenolic secondary metabolites from V. vitis-idaea leaves for the first time. The kinetics of extraction have been studied, and the extraction conditions have been optimized using a Box–Behnken design. It was found that the optimal extraction conditions are follow: the most suitable mixture is betaine with lactic acid and water at a molar ratio of 1:10:5, the optimal temperature is 33 °C, and the optimal ratio of the mass of plant material to the volume of the solvent is 1:20. Under these conditions, the yield of total phenolic compounds was 744.3 ± 1.2 mg GAE/g, and total flavonoids reached 24.4 ± 0.2 mg RE/g. The IC50 values of the obtained extract were 2.45 mg/mL for free radical scavenging with DPPH and 3.47 mg/mL for ABTS. The data obtained can be used in the development of green technologies for the extraction of biologically active substances from the leaves of V. vitis-idaea. Full article
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22 pages, 311 KiB  
Article
Utilization of Fish Meal and Fish Oil from Smoked Salmon By-Products in Juvenile Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) Feeds: Growth Performance, Nutritional Composition, and Shelf-Life Assessment of Upcycled Ingredients
by Connor Neagle, Michael O. Frinsko, Ryan Kelly, Steven G. Hall, Benjamin J. Reading, Alexander Chouljenko, Greg Bolton and Michael Joseph
Fishes 2025, 10(5), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10050240 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 1745
Abstract
Fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) are vital components commonly used in feed formulations. However, their supply, which generally comes from capture fisheries, is being exhausted, necessitating the exploration of sustainable alternatives. In a two-part study, the first part evaluated the FM [...] Read more.
Fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) are vital components commonly used in feed formulations. However, their supply, which generally comes from capture fisheries, is being exhausted, necessitating the exploration of sustainable alternatives. In a two-part study, the first part evaluated the FM and FO derived from smoked salmon by-product (SSBP) over a 12-week accelerated shelf-life test, comparing their lipid oxidation, amino acid, and fatty acid profiles to those of commercial whitefish meal and oil. In the second part, the SSBP FM and FO were then included in three experimental feeds at 25%, 50%, and 100% inclusion levels. These feeds were tested on juvenile striped bass (Morone saxatilis) cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The results indicated that the quality of SSBP FM and FO was lower than the commercial product (less amino acids (23.98% vs. 60.30%) and omega-3 fatty acids (9.46% vs. 26.6%), respectively). SSBP FO exhibited high initial peroxide value (21.00 ± 0.00 meq/kg oil), with gradually increasing total oxidation value and p-Anisidine value during storage. Regarding the feeding trial, all fish showed signs of Mycobacterium marinum infection after one month. While there was no significant difference in feed palatability (p > 0.8559), the feed conversion ratio was less efficient for the 100% SSBP feed (1.44 ± 0.14) compared to commercial feed (1.36 ± 0.13), but these differences were not statistically significant. This study suggests that SSBP FM and FO can be used as supplements at lower levels (25% and 50%) without negatively affecting growth, feed efficiency, or survival. Our findings may be useful for enabling beneficial collaborations between smoked salmon processors, feed manufacturers, and striped bass farmers, therefore contributing to sustainability in aquaculture practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Feeds for Aquatic Animals)
19 pages, 1068 KiB  
Article
Impact of Dietary Glutamate on Growth Performance and Flesh Quality of Largemouth Bass
by Bo Zhao, Ju Zhao, Haifeng Liu, Hailong Zhang, Hongying Shan, Jiali Zong, Quanquan Cao and Jun Jiang
Fishes 2025, 10(4), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10040151 - 31 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 616
Abstract
The influence of dietary glutamate (Glu) was evaluated in a 56-day feeding trial on the growth performance and flesh quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A total of 1170 fish (average body weight 24.05 ± 0.22 g) were randomly allocated into [...] Read more.
The influence of dietary glutamate (Glu) was evaluated in a 56-day feeding trial on the growth performance and flesh quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A total of 1170 fish (average body weight 24.05 ± 0.22 g) were randomly allocated into six groups, with three replicates per group. They were fed diets containing Glu in levels of 11.40% (G1), 11.88% (G2), 12.53% (G3), 13.27% (G4), 14.33% (G5), and 15.62% (G6). We found that, over a 56-day feeding period, the final body weight (FBW) of largemouth bass was about 4–5 times the IBW. The FBW, percent weight gain (PWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) initially increased and then decreased with elevating dietary Glu levels. Likewise, protein content, lipid content, apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter (ADCD), and apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADCP) followed a similar pattern. Supplementation with Glu significantly improved the hepatosomatic index (HSI), viscerosomatic index (VSI), and relative gut length (RGL). Moreover, dietary Glu augmentation noticeably enhanced flesh composition such as muscle protein, ash, lipid, amino acid contents, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Furthermore, dietary Glu supplementation enhanced muscle physicochemical quality (such as drip loss and pH), textural properties (adhesiveness and cohesiveness), and biochemical indices such as total protein (TP) and salt-soluble protein, while decreasing muscle cathepsin B (CtsB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) contents, thereby improving flesh quality. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Glu plays a crucial role in enhancing both growth performance and muscle quality in largemouth bass. The optimal dietary requirement for juvenile largemouth bass was estimated to be approximately 125.1 g/kg of diet based on SGR analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition and Feeding)
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16 pages, 1937 KiB  
Article
Longitudinal Analysis of Amyloid PET and Brain MRI for Predicting Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s Disease: Findings from the ADNI Cohort
by Do-Hoon Kim
Tomography 2025, 11(3), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/tomography11030037 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1614
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the predictive power of integrated longitudinal amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for determining the likelihood of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the predictive power of integrated longitudinal amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for determining the likelihood of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We included 180 patients with MCI from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, with baseline and 2-year follow-up scans obtained using F-18 florbetapir PET and MRI. Patients were categorized as converters (progressing to AD) or nonconverters based on a 6-year follow-up. Quantitative analyses included the calculation of amyloid burden using the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), brain amyloid smoothing scores (BASSs), brain atrophy indices (BAIs), and their integration into shape features. Longitudinal changes and receiver operating characteristic analyses assessed the predictive power of these biomarkers. Results: Among 180 patients with MCI, 76 (42.2%) were converters, who exhibited significantly higher baseline and 2-year follow-up values for SUVR, BASS, BAI, and shape features than nonconverters (p < 0.001). Shape features demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy for conversion, with areas under the curve of 0.891 at baseline and 0.898 at 2 years. Percent change analyses revealed significant increases in brain atrophy; amyloid deposition changes showed a paradoxical decrease in converters. Additionally, strong associations were observed between longitudinal changes in shape features and neuropsychological test results. Conclusions: The integration of amyloid PET and MRI biomarkers enhances the prediction of AD progression in patients with MCI. These findings support the potential of combined imaging approaches for early diagnosis and targeted interventions in AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Neuroimaging)
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16 pages, 2780 KiB  
Article
Emodin Improves Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Liver Health Through Nrf2/NF-κB Pathway and Fat Metabolism: Growth Performance, Immune Response and Resistance Against Aeromonas veronii Infection
by Zhenxin Zhao, Fei Zhao, Tianxun Luo, Zhou Zhou and Xianbo Zhang
Animals 2025, 15(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15020178 - 10 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1334
Abstract
The experiment was aimed at examining the influence of adding emodin to feeds on the growth performance, liver immunity, and resistance against Aeromonas veronii infection among juvenile largemouth basses and other potential mechanisms. A total of 540 fish (45 ± 0.3 g) were [...] Read more.
The experiment was aimed at examining the influence of adding emodin to feeds on the growth performance, liver immunity, and resistance against Aeromonas veronii infection among juvenile largemouth basses and other potential mechanisms. A total of 540 fish (45 ± 0.3 g) were randomly divided into 6 diets, including EM-0, EM-250, EM-500, EM-1000, EM-2000, and EM-4000 diets, in which 0, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg kg−1 emodin was added. Following a 60-day feeding test, it demonstrated that the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of juveniles within the EM-500 and EM-1000 groups remarkably exceeded that of the EM-0 group. Subsequently, unlike those in EM-0 group, the fish in the EM-1000 group showed heightened hepatocyte count, induced hepatic lipolysis-associated expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα) and acyl-coenzyme an oxidase (ACO), and reduced the hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels. Additionally, EM-1000 could up-regulate the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-associated factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in livers compared with controls and boost antioxidant enzymes activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), along with a lower content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Meanwhile, the EM-1000 group increased anti-inflammatory cytokines of interleukin-10 (IL-10) while suppressing the interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in livers by contrast to controls. In the end, juvenile largemouth bass in the EM-1000 group showed a comparatively highest survival rate, whereas fish in the EM-2000 and EM-4000 groups exhibited a little higher mortality than that of the EM-0 group. To sum up, our study exposed that supplementing emodin with 1000 mg kg−1 in diet could enhance the hepatic antioxidant status and unspecific immunity to reinforce the protective effect on disease resistance, resulting in improving the growth performance in juvenile largemouth bass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Aquatic Animal Health Through Feed Additives)
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16 pages, 1446 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Dietary Yeast Polysaccharide Supplementation in Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity of Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by Junjie Qin, Haifeng Mi, Mingchun Ren, Dongyu Huang, Hualiang Liang, Lu Zhang, Tao Teng and Heng Yin
Fishes 2025, 10(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10010026 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1349
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary yeast polysaccharide (YPS) supplementation on the growth performance, whole-body composition, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In this study, five diets with YPS levels of [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary yeast polysaccharide (YPS) supplementation on the growth performance, whole-body composition, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In this study, five diets with YPS levels of 0.00% (control), 0.05% (0.05Y), 0.10% (0.10Y), 0.15% (0.15Y), and 0.20% (0.20Y) were designed and prepared. A total of 300 healthy fish (3.20 ± 0.03 g) were randomly divided into 15 floating cages (1 × 1 × 1 m) in five different groups, with three replicates per group, for an 8-week culture experiment. The 0.10Y and 0.20Y groups had significantly higher feed conversion ratios compared with the control group. There was no significant effect on any of the other growth indicators. Plasma biochemical indices showed that the 0.10Y group exhibited the highest plasma alkaline phosphatase content and the 0.20Y group exhibited the highest plasma glucose content. Plasma antioxidant indices (total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione) and antioxidant genes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were elevated in the 0.05Y or 0.10Y groups, and the malondialdehyde content decreased with increasing YPS concentration. Moreover, the 0.05Y group showed significantly higher immune-related gene (nuclear factor-kappa B, interleukin-8, and interleukin-10) mRNA expression. Altogether, our results indicate that dietary YPS supplementation enhances the antioxidant and immune capacity of M. salmoides, but with no positive effect on their growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Nutrition and Immunology)
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20 pages, 4162 KiB  
Article
A Planning Method for Charging Station Based on Long-Term Charging Load Forecasting of Electric Vehicles
by Boyu Xiang, Zhengyang Zhou, Shukun Gao, Guoping Lei and Zefu Tan
Energies 2024, 17(24), 6437; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17246437 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 726
Abstract
During the planning and construction of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs), consideration of the long-term operating revenue loss for investors is often lacking. To address this issue, this study proposes an EVCS planning method that takes into account the potential loss of long-term [...] Read more.
During the planning and construction of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs), consideration of the long-term operating revenue loss for investors is often lacking. To address this issue, this study proposes an EVCS planning method that takes into account the potential loss of long-term operating revenues associated with charging facilities. First, the method combines the Bass model with electric vehicle (EV) user travel characteristics to generate a charging load dataset. Then, the cost of profit loss—which represents the EVCS utilization rate—is incorporated into the construction of the objective function. Additionally, a parallel computing method is introduced into the solution algorithm to generate the EVCS planning scheme. Finally, the cost-to-profit ratio of the EVCSs is used as a filtering condition to obtain the optimal EVCS planning scheme. The results show that the EVCS planning scheme considering the profit loss reduces the annual comprehensive cost by 24.25% and 16.93%, and increases the net profit by 22.14% and 24.49%, respectively, when compared to the traditional planning scheme under high and low oil prices. In particular, the charging station strategy proposed in this study has the best effect in the case of high oil prices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section E: Electric Vehicles)
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15 pages, 4316 KiB  
Article
Development of a Novel Colorimetric pH Biosensor Based on A-Motif Structures for Rapid Food Freshness Monitoring and Spoilage Detection
by Jiajia Wang, Huiyuan Wang, Hongmin Zhang, Shiqi Yang, Keqiang Lai, Donglei Luan and Juan Yan
Biosensors 2024, 14(12), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14120605 - 10 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1848
Abstract
Accurate methods for assessing food freshness through colorimetric pH response play a critical role in determining food spoilage and ensuring food quality standards. This study introduces a novel unlabeled DNA sequence, poly-dA20, designed to exploit the colorimetric properties of both the [...] Read more.
Accurate methods for assessing food freshness through colorimetric pH response play a critical role in determining food spoilage and ensuring food quality standards. This study introduces a novel unlabeled DNA sequence, poly-dA20, designed to exploit the colorimetric properties of both the single strand and the fold-back A-motif structure in conjunction with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) under varying pH conditions. When exposed to storage temperatures of 4 °C and 25 °C, the color variations in the AuNP solution, influenced by pH level changes in mutton and sea bass samples’ different storage periods, are easily discernible to the naked eye within a minute. The ratio of UV absorption values at 527 nm and 700 nm (A527/A700) demonstrates a strong linear correlation with both the storage duration and pH of the food samples. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis combining the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value with the A527/A700 ratio is employed for precise assessment of food freshness. The innovative pH-responsive sensing strategy not only provides a new approach for on-site food freshness and spoilage detection systems but also serves as a valuable tool for pH-related biological detection in clinical diagnostic applications. Full article
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12 pages, 1630 KiB  
Article
Effects of Dietary Cobalt Levels on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune Status of Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by Dongyu Huang, Joshua Daniel Jahazi, Mingchun Ren, Lu Zhang and Hualiang Liang
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(11), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11110576 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1202
Abstract
A 9-week experiment investigated the effects of dietary cobalt levels on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of largemouth bass. Six feed groups were designed and each group received different cobalt levels, including 0.129 mg/kg (control group), 0.192 mg/kg, 0.201 mg/kg, 0.233 [...] Read more.
A 9-week experiment investigated the effects of dietary cobalt levels on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of largemouth bass. Six feed groups were designed and each group received different cobalt levels, including 0.129 mg/kg (control group), 0.192 mg/kg, 0.201 mg/kg, 0.233 mg/kg, 0.277 mg/kg, and 0.316 mg/kg. The results show that the control group (0.129 mg/kg diet) had the lowest final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR), and the highest feed conversion ratio (FCR), when compared to the cobalt supplementation groups. Dietary cobalt levels of 0.192 mg/kg increased the body protein content and decreased the body moisture content. Regarding antioxidant capacity, the highest catalase (CAT) activity was found in the 0.277 mg/kg dietary cobalt group, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly diminished; the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) content and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity exhibited the highest values in the 0.192 mg/kg and 0.233 mg/kg dietary cobalt groups, respectively. Regarding gene expression, compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of sod was upregulated in the 0.192 mg/kg, 0.233 mg/kg, and 0.277 mg/kg dietary cobalt groups, while the mRNA expression of gpx was diminished when dietary cobalt levels were below 0.233 mg/kg. In addition, the highest il-10 and tgf-β mRNA expression levels were observed in the 0.201 mg/kg and 0.233 mg/kg dietary cobalt groups, respectively. According to the quadratic regression analysis based on the SGR and FCR, the optimal requirement was 0.24 and 0.26 mg/kg of dietary cobalt, respectively. Full article
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19 pages, 2003 KiB  
Article
Mediterranean Aquaponics: Fasting and Refeeding in a Polyculture Aquaponic System
by Ioannis Mitsopoulos, Anastasia Papadopoulou, Nikolaos Vlahos, Panagiotis Berillis, Efi Levizou and Eleni Mente
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9829; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219829 - 28 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1396
Abstract
The use of Mediterranean euryhaline fish and halophytes in aquaponics presents a sustainable and alternative approach to food production. The present study investigates the effect of compensatory growth on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Baltic prawn (Palaemon adspersus) co-cultivated [...] Read more.
The use of Mediterranean euryhaline fish and halophytes in aquaponics presents a sustainable and alternative approach to food production. The present study investigates the effect of compensatory growth on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Baltic prawn (Palaemon adspersus) co-cultivated with the halophytic glasswort (Salicornia europaea). Three autonomous systems were established, each containing forty-five sea bass, nine Baltic prawns, and eight glasswort plants, with different feeding regimes for each treatment: (i) daily feeding (treatment A), (ii) three days of feeding per week followed by four days of fasting (treatment B), and (iii) feeding for seven days followed by seven days of fasting (treatment C). The growth performance of the fish was significantly higher in treatment B. Conversely, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was notably higher in treatment A. As for the prawns, their final body weight and length were similar across all treatments. The glasswort plants also demonstrated significantly improved growth in treatment B. These results indicate that the incorporation of feeding and fasting cycles can be an effective feed management strategy for polyculture aquaponic systems. Additionally, food deprivation had a positive impact on the growth performance of both glasswort and prawns. Full article
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14 pages, 1087 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dietary Copper on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity in Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by John Cosmas Kayiira, Haifeng Mi, Hualiang Liang, Mingchun Ren, Dongyu Huang, Lu Zhang and Tao Teng
Fishes 2024, 9(9), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9090369 - 23 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1681
Abstract
This study evaluated the optimal dietary copper (Cu) levels and their effects on growth performance, body composition, and antioxidant capacity in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A total of 360 fish (initial average weight (1.67 ± 0.01 g) and initial average [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the optimal dietary copper (Cu) levels and their effects on growth performance, body composition, and antioxidant capacity in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A total of 360 fish (initial average weight (1.67 ± 0.01 g) and initial average length (2.5 ± 0.2 cm)) were randomly assigned to 18 tanks, each containing 20 fish and six dietary Cu concentrations: 2.13 (control), 3.00, 3.66, 4.58, 4.64, and 5.72 mg/kg. The results indicated that fish receiving 3.00 mg/kg of Cu exhibited the best final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR), with a significantly reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR). While body composition (moisture, protein, lipid, and ash) remained consistent across groups, plasma total protein (TP) levels increased with Cu supplementation. Elevated triglycerides (TG) and albumin (ALB) were noted at 4.64 and 5.72 mg/kg, respectively, while glucose (GLU) levels decreased with an increase in dietary Cu. Antioxidant capacity, assessed via hepatic glutathione (GSH) and the activities of catalase (CAT), and showed significant improvements at 3.00 and 3.66 mg/kg Cu, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed the highest activity at a dietary Cu level of 5.72 mg/kg. Additionally, the expressions of tgf-β and tnf-α genes were significantly upregulated at a dietary Cu level of 5.72 mg/kg, while il-8 and il-10 genes were upregulated at dietary 3.66 mg/kg. The expression of nrf2 was significantly upregulated in response to a dietary Cu level of 3.66 mg/kg compared to the control group, and the expression of the keap1 gene was significantly upregulated in the fish fed with 5.72 mg/kg of dietary Cu. The results indicated that appropriate dietary supplementation could promote the growth performance and improve the antioxidant status the immunity of largemouth bass, and the optimal Cu requirement for FCR and SGR were approximately 3.10 mg/kg and 3.00 mg/kg, respectively. Full article
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18 pages, 3590 KiB  
Article
Effects of Dietary Ursolic Acid on Growth Performance and Intestinal Health of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
by Min Wang, Yongfang Wang, Xiang Li, Yue Yin, Xiwen Zhang, Shuang Wu, Hongquan Wang and Yurong Zhao
Animals 2024, 14(17), 2492; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172492 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1139
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on the growth performance and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Four diets were formulated with UA supplementation at 0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, defined as the control [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on the growth performance and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Four diets were formulated with UA supplementation at 0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, defined as the control (CON), UA250, UA500, and UA1000, respectively. After an 8-week feeding experiment, the results showed that, in the UA500 group, the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR) increased, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and hepatosomatic index decreased. Total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity exhibited a significant increase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased. An intestinal histological analysis revealed an improvement in the intestinal structural integrity of the UA500 group. The mRNA relative expression levels of physical barrier-related genes [occludin, claudin-1, and zonula occluden-1 (zo-1)] were upregulated. The mRNA relative expression of interlenkin 10 (il-10) increased, and the mRNA relative expression of interlenkin 1β (il-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α) significantly decreased. The abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria decreased, and the abundance of Tenericutes increased. The abundance of Mycoplasma, Cyanobium, and Staphylococcus decreased, while the abundance of Clostridium increased. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of UA significantly enhanced the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of largemouth bass while improving intestinal barrier function through its influence on the abundance of intestinal flora, such as Tenericutes, Firmicutes, and Mycoplasma. Optimal dietary UA levels for largemouth bass were determined to be between 498 and 520 mg/kg based on quadratic regression analyses of WGR, SGR, and FCR or T-SOD and MDA content. Full article
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Article
Efficiently Substituting Dietary Fish Meal with Terrestrial Compound Protein Enhances Growth, Health, and Protein Synthesis in Largemouth Bass
by Fang Chen, Zhirong Ding, Zeliang Su, Junfeng Guan, Chao Xu, Shuqi Wang, Yuanyou Li and Dizhi Xie
Animals 2024, 14(15), 2196; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152196 - 28 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1609
Abstract
Inappropriate substitution of dietary fishmeal (FM) can adversely affect the growth, health, and metabolism of carnivorous fish species. To effectively reduce the amount of dietary FM in carnivorous largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a terrestrial compound protein (Cpro) with chicken meal, bone [...] Read more.
Inappropriate substitution of dietary fishmeal (FM) can adversely affect the growth, health, and metabolism of carnivorous fish species. To effectively reduce the amount of dietary FM in carnivorous largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a terrestrial compound protein (Cpro) with chicken meal, bone meal, and black soldier fly protein was used to formulate four isoproteic (52%) and isolipidic (12%) diets, namely T1 (36% FM), T2 (30% FM), T3 (24% FM), and T4 (18% FM), for feeding juveniles (initial weight: ~12 g) for 81 days. Results indicated that the growth performance, feed efficiency, and morphological indicators, as well as muscle texture and edible quality of fish, did not differ significantly among the four groups. However, the muscle protein contents and ATP/AMP ratio of fish in the T4 group were significantly increased in comparison with those of fish in the T1 group, while the opposite was true for muscle glycogen. Compared with the T1 group, high serum total amino acid and MDA contents, as well as low AST activities, were observed in the T3 and T4 groups, and relatively high intestinal trypsin and lipase activities were found in the T2–T4 groups. The transcripts of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines (il-1β, il-6, and tnf-α) were downregulated in the T2–T4 groups compared with T1 group, while the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (il-10) and tight junction (zo-1 and occludin) showed the reverse trend. The mRNA expression of positive regulators related to protein synthesis (sirt1, pgc1-α, pi3k, and akt) were significantly upregulated in the muscle of fish fed diets T3 and T4, while their negative regulators (4e-bp1) mRNA levels were downregulated. The results indicate that the dietary FM of largemouth bass could be effectively reduced to at least 18% by the Cpro, which is beneficial to health, digestion, and protein synthesis for maintaining accelerated growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Aquatic Animals)
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