Search Results (799)

The growth of aquaculture poses significant challenges for disease management, impacting economic sustainability and global food security. Traditional diagnostics are slow and require expertise, while current deep learning models, including CNNs and Transformers, face a trade-off between capturing global symptom context and maintaining computational efficiency. This paper introduces FishMambaNet, a novel framework that integrates selective state space models (SSMs) with convolutional networks for accurate and efficient fish disease diagnosis. FishMambaNet features two core components: the Fish Disease Detection State Space block (FSBlock), which models long-range symptom dependencies via SSMs while preserving local details with gated convolutions, and the Multi-Scale Convolutional Attention (MSCA) mechanism, which enriches multi-scale feature representation with low computational cost. Experiments demonstrate state-of-the-art performance, with FishMambaNet achieving a mean Average Precision at 50% Intersection over Union (mAP@50) of 86.7% using only 4.3 M parameters and 10.7 GFLOPs, significantly surpassing models like YOLOv8-m and RT-DETR. This work establishes a new paradigm for lightweight, powerful disease detection in aquaculture, offering a practical solution for real-time deployment in resource-constrained environments. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of pineapple pomace as a functional feed additive on growth performance, fecal microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and odor substance emissions in weaned piglets. The experiment utilized 90 weaned three-way crossbred piglets (Duroc–Yorkshire–Guoshou Black Pig) at 28 days of age, randomly divided into three groups of 10 pigs each: the control group (CON, basal diet), the fish meal group (FM, basal diet + 2% imported fish meal), and the pineapple pomace group (PPC, basal diet + 2% pineapple pomace compound). The results indicated the PPC group exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) and significantly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) than the CON group. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the PPC group significantly increased fecal microbiota species richness and diversity (p < 0.01) while enriching beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and butyrate-producing bacteria such as Blautia. Concurrently, acetic acid and butyric acid levels in feces were significantly elevated in the PPC group (p < 0.05), with butyric acid production markedly higher than in the FM group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), such as isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid (p < 0.05). Moreover, PPC supplementation led to a significant decrease in fecal levels of indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary inclusion of 2% pineapple pomace improves growth performance and intestinal health in weaned piglets by modulating the fecal microbiota, promoting beneficial SCFA production, and inhibiting protein putrefaction. These findings support PPC as an effective and sustainable alternative to fish meal, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly feeding strategies in pig production. Full article

Sustainable aquaculture requires innovative systems that enhance production efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Among emerging technologies, biofloc technology (BFT) and recirculating aquaculture Systems (RAS) are widely adopted for intensive fish culture; however, their integration with aquaponics remains underexplored. This study aimed to compare the growth performance and water quality in aquaponic (AP) systems combining Japanese eel (A. japonica) and caipira lettuce (L. sativa) using BFT and RAS technologies for 28 days. This study compared four aquaculture configurations: BFT, RAS, BFT-AP (BFT with aquaponics), RAS-AP (RAS with aquaponics). Results showed that aquaponics integration seems to be improve the fish growth and apparent feed efficiency. Eels reared in BFT-AP achieved the highest final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate and apparent feed efficiency, which were relatively greater than in BFT, RAS, or RAS-AP systems. The growth of caipira lettuce was markedly enhanced in BFT-AP, with total biomass nearly four times that of RAS-AP. Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were relatively higher in BFT-AP than in RAS-AP, indicating nutrient enrichment beneficial for plants. In conclusion, integrating aquaponics with BFT substantially enhanced both eel and production of caipira lettuce. The BFT-AP configuration represents a more efficient and ecologically balanced model for sustainable aquaculture intensification compared with traditional RASs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Carvacrol, a major active component of oregano oil and common feed additive, has been widely studied for its effects on fish growth, immunity, and intestinal health. But its transcriptional/metabolic impacts on fish liver remain unclear. This study investigated these effects in Pengze crucian carp (Carassius auratus var. Pengze). Methods: Fish were fed a basal diet (control) or basal diet supplemented with 10% microencapsulated carvacrol (600 mg/kg) for 56 days; liver samples were analyzed via transcriptomics and metabolomics. Results: Transcriptomic analysis revealed 482 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver of Pengze crucian carp following carvacrol supplementation, with 158 upregulated and 324 downregulated genes. Functional annotation highlighted enrichment in translation, signal transduction, amino acid metabolism, and posttranslational modification pathways. GO analysis further identified key processes, including carboxylic acid transport, tRNA aminoacylation, and mitochondrial nucleoid function, while KEGG pathways were implicated in amino acid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism (e.g., alpha-linolenic acid), and insulin signaling. Metabolomic profiling identified 679 significantly altered metabolites, including 113 upregulated and 566 downregulated ones. Among these, upregulated compounds like L-asparaginyl-L-lysine (Log₂FC = 4.36) and 2′-Deoxyadenosine-5′-diphosphate (Log₂FC = 4.31) are linked to nucleotide metabolism, and downregulated peptides (e.g., Ala-Phe-Tyr-Arg) suggesting modulated protein turnover. Joint omics analysis revealed convergent pathways in glycerophospholipid metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and autophagy. Notably, the chaperone gene dnaja3b was correlated strongly with neuroactive metabolites (e.g., normetanephrine), potentially implicating carvacrol in stress response regulation. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that carvacrol modulates liver gene expression and metabolic profiles, primarily influencing amino acid and lipid metabolism pathways, autophagy, and stress responses. The observed correlations between dnaja3b and specific metabolites offer mechanistic insights into the action of carvacrol in fish liver. Full article

Global fishery resources are under increasing pressure from environmental change and institutional constraints. China’s seasonal fishing moratorium has contributed to resource recovery but has also created income and employment challenges for small-scale fishers. This study examines how livelihood capital structures shape annual livelihood portfolios under predictable closure constraints, using three representative fishing communities in Guangdong Province as case studies. A combination of data augmentation, regression analysis, and agent-based simulation was applied to analyze the relationships between capital endowments and behavioral responses. Results show that environmental and financial capital significantly increase the likelihood of maintaining capture as the primary livelihood, while psychological capital stabilizes decisions under uncertainty. Physical capital and social networks exhibit more variable effects, reflecting differentiated adaptive capacities. Simulations further reveal threshold effects and diminishing marginal returns in capital accumulation, with heterogeneous temporal impacts across capital types. Theoretically, the study extends the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach by incorporating environmental and psychological capital, thereby enriching the understanding of capital mechanisms in fisheries. Overall, the findings advance knowledge of how small-scale fishers adapt under institutional constraints and provide practical insights for policies aimed at aligning livelihood security with the sustainable use of marine resources. Full article

The fish liver serves as a crucial metabolic organ, integral to detoxification, nutrient storage, and energy regulation, thereby playing a pivotal role in enabling organisms to adapt to environmental fluctuations. The silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), an important species in Chinese freshwater aquaculture, demonstrates limited tolerance to hypoxic conditions. Nevertheless, the alterations in gene expression patterns within the liver of silver carp under hypoxic stress are not yet fully elucidated. In this study, we exposed silver carp to hypoxic conditions using a natural oxygen depletion method and utilized RNA sequencing to investigate transcriptional regulation in the liver across varying levels of hypoxic stress. We identified a total of 628 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 42 being common across all stress conditions. These DEGs were classified into four groups based on their expression trends and subjected to GO enrichment analysis, which revealed significant enrichment in terms associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, cell proliferation, myofibrils, and sterol metabolic processes. The KEGG enrichment analysis identified nine pathways that were consistently and significantly enriched across all stress levels, six of which encompass the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation. The elucidation of the molecular network associated with hypoxia adaptation in the liver of silver carp presented in this study provides crucial theoretical insights into the mechanisms underlying hypoxia tolerance in fish. Full article

Germ cell xenotransplantation is a promising tool for enhancing aquaculture production and supporting the conservation of declining fish species. A major limitation is the reliable identification of germ stem cells, which remains challenging due to the scarcity of validated molecular markers. This study assessed the suitability of different immunohistochemical approaches for identifying ovarian germ stem cells (OGSCs) in three Mediterranean species of commercial interest: European hake (Merluccius merluccius), meagre (Argyrosomus regius), and flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). Among the antibodies tested (anti-OCT4, anti-VASA, anti-Sox2), only anti-VASA and anti-Sox2 labeled cells with morphological features consistent with OGSCs, although staining intensity, specificity, and cross-reactivity with early oocytes varied across species. In parallel, preliminary protocols for OGSC isolation and in vitro proliferation were developed for European hake and meagre. Enzymatic dissociation with collagenase, followed by Ficoll-Paque density separation and culture in Leibovitz’s L-15 medium supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum at 25 °C, resulted in the highest OGSC recovery and detectable increases in proliferating cells. A sequential pre-plating step enhanced enrichment in meagre but caused substantial cell loss in hake. Overall, this study provides a comparative evaluation of female germline stem cell markers in these species, contributing to future surrogate reproduction and germplasm conservation strategies. Full article

Aging is associated with alterations in gut microbiota, yet the combined effects of geography and diet remain underexplored in elderly populations. This study investigated the gut microbiota of 227 healthy Vietnamese individuals aged ≥60 years, stratified by select urban and rural residence in both Hanoi and Thanh Hoa provinces, and across three age groups (60–69, 70–79, ≥80 years). Dietary patterns were collected and recorded for each participant. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed significant differences in microbial diversity and composition associated with geographical location (urban, rural) and age. Urban participants in Hanoi exhibited higher richness and greater abundance of health-associated genera, including Bifidobacterium, Fusicatenibacter, and Blautia, likely reflecting more diverse plant-based diets. In contrast, rural participants in Thanh Hoa showed enrichment of beneficial butyrate-producing genera such as Fusicatenibacter, Roseburia, Lachnospira and Blautia, possibly linked to traditional diets rich in freshwater fish and fermented foods. Participants aged 70–79 years displayed reduced microbial richness compared to other age groups. Age-related reductions in Roseburia, Veillonella, and Prevotella were also observed. These findings highlight how geography, diet, and aging shape the gut microbiota and may guide microbiota-targeted dietary strategies to promote healthy aging. Full article

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable vertebrate adaptation to deep-water environments remains a central goal in evolutionary biology. This study used comparative transcriptomics of skeletal muscle tissue to investigate these mechanisms in four endemic sculpin fish species (Cottoidei) from Lake Baikal, which inhabit different depth niches ranging from pelagic to benthic-abyssal zones up to 1642 m. Pelagic species showed increased activity in genes involved in sarcomere structure, calcium handling, and motor proteins, indicating adaptations for sustained locomotion. In contrast, deep-benthic specialists showed enrichment in pathways for glycolytic metabolism, proteasome function, and ubiquitination, reflecting adaptations for energy efficiency and protein homeostasis in a high-pressure environment. We conclude that the colonization of the Baikal abyssal zone by sculpins relies on a suite of shared molecular mechanisms, with distinct ecological pressures driving specific transcriptional changes in motility, metabolic strategy, and cellular integrity. This study provides a systems-level model for deep-water adaptation in vertebrates. Full article

Gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) play a crucial role in host physiology and are modulated by host biology, environmental conditions, and temporal dynamics. The GIM of two types of fishes, the redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) and the bullhead catfish (Ameiurus spp.), from three streams over two seasons were sampled for host health (hepatosomatic index, Fulton’s condition factor), age, and additional environmental metadata. A total of 56 of these were fully analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and QIIME2. Specific taxonomic lineages were identified as significant with respect to observed differences between variables, including season, stream, and host taxonomic affiliation. The relative abundance of bacterial phyla varied significantly based on host type and between the three sites. However, the most significant effects for both relative abundance and alpha diversity metrics were seen when combining variables of site and season or host and season. Principal Component Analysis using weighted and unweighted Unifrac indicated the primacy of season in beta diversity analyses. Analysis of Compositions of Microbiomes (ANCOM) to identify taxa responsible for these differences revealed distinct amplicon sequence variants enriched by season, stream, host taxonomy, and host age. The larger picture emerging from these data suggests that there is a complex interplay between the host, season, and environment that shapes the structure of fish microbiota and associated host health. Full article

Hemibagrus guttatus is a commercially valuable freshwater fish in the Pearl River Basin, renowned as the “King of Freshwater Fish.” Due to habitat degradation and overfishing, its wild population has declined sharply, leading to its listing as a National Key Protected Wild Animal of Class II in China. Artificial breeding is therefore crucial for conservation, yet progress is hindered by the lack of clear sexual dimorphism and poor understanding of its sex differentiation mechanism. In this study, we performed high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to compare gonadal transcriptomes of male and female H. guttatus. A total of 3245 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 3122 male-biased and 123 female-biased DEGs, which clustered into three distinct expression patterns. Enrichment analysis revealed that genes associated with the TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor-beta) and GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) signaling pathways were significantly enriched in the female gonads, suggesting their potential roles in gonadal differentiation. From the DEG set, we further highlighted five genes with pronounced sex-biased expression: rbm46 (RNA Binding Motif Protein 46) exhibited gonad-specific expression, whereas myc (v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog), angptl4 (Angiopoietin-Like 4), sox9 (SRY-Related HMG-Box Gene 9), and fzd2 (Frizzled Class Receptor 2) showed marked expression differences between male and female gonads. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differentiation in H. guttatus, offer potential molecular markers for sex identification, and establish a scientific basis for germplasm conservation and the optimization of breeding techniques. Full article

Background: Falls are a major cause of injury, functional decline, and reduced quality of life among older adults, posing a significant public health challenge. Social prescribing is gaining relevance in gerontology, offering structured strategies to engage individuals in preventive activities, including fall prevention strategies, through engagement in community-based activities. Aim: To examine older adults’ perception of the relevance of personal protection and development activities (e.g., prevention against falling) and compare sociodemographic, behavioural, and engagement profiles between those who agree and those who disagree with its relevance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 613 older adults aged 65–93 years. Data collection included sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioural/social engagement variables (including perceptions regarding the benefits of social prescribing and interest in community-based activities). For this analysis, participants were dichotomized based on their agreement with the relevance of personal protection and development activities (e.g., prevention against falling). Of the 569 participants included, 538 (94.5%) agreed with its relevance and 31 (5.5%) disagreed. Descriptive and exploratory analyses were conducted to compare the two groups across variables. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore independent predictors of agreement across sociodemographic, behavioural, social prescribing, and health-related variables. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups in awareness of active ageing (p = 0.018), volunteering (p < 0.001), participation in social and community activities (p < 0.001), and hobbies like gardening, fishing, or cooking (p = 0.002). Those who agreed with the importance of personal protection and development activities were significantly more likely to value a range of initiatives, including social activities in recreational organizations, physical activity in the community (e.g., hiking), artistic and creative activities (e.g., visual arts, music), technical or technological activities (e.g., do-it-yourself, computers), and cultural enrichment activities (e.g., visiting museums), (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed no effects of sociodemographic or health-related factors, whereas behavioural and engagement-related variables—including volunteering, hobbies, and several social prescribing activities—significantly predicted agreement with the relevance of personal protection and development activities. Discussion: The findings suggest that older adults who perceive fall prevention as relevant are more actively engaged in diverse health-promoting activities, including volunteering, hobbies, and community-based programmes. This pattern may reflect higher health literacy, stronger social networks, and proactive attitudes towards ageing. Conclusions: Perceptions of fall prevention are closely linked to broader patterns of engagement in health-promoting activities among older adults. Recognizing and addressing differences in how these activities are valued can inform more inclusive and targeted gerontological interventions. Full article

Dynamic developmental states of follicles are regarded to be determinants of sexual maturation in fish ovaries. However, it is still a challenge to identify the critical points at which the developmental processes of different types of follicles interact and affect the ovarian development. In this study, four subtypes of the primary follicle (PF) in the ovarian folliculogenesis of zebrafish, i.e., the so-called PF-i, PF-ii, PF-iii, and PF-iv, are first identified by discontinuous NaCl-Percoll gradient centrifugation, as well as their respective morphological features. Then, for the four subtypes of PFs, stage-specific comparative analysis is employed to identify the differentially expressed genes and the differentially methylated regions, which have been validated to be significantly enriched in biological processes encompassing ribosomal biogenesis, meiotic progression, transcriptional regulation, and mitochondrial respiration. Results from transcriptional analysis further demonstrate significant changes in the expression profiles at different developmental stages from the PF-ii to the PF-iii. By molecular biology identification, it is shown that the enhancement of Notch and mTOR pathways can significantly regulate the ovarian development through the pacing effect of primary follicles. Clearly, all these uncovered results could provide a deeper understanding of the initial regulation of ovarian maturation, as well as a new multidisciplinary analytic tool to study follicle candidate regulators in the developmental process of other fish. Full article

Hypoxia is a critical environmental stressor in aquaculture, significantly affecting the survival and growth performance of cultured fish. To explore the genetic basis of hypoxia tolerance in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), we integrated genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and multi-tissue transcriptome profiling. A total of 2000 grass carp were subjected to hypoxic stress, from which the 150 most hypoxia-intolerant (HI) and 150 most hypoxia-tolerant (HT) individuals were selected based on the time to loss of equilibrium (LOE). GWAS using 3,730,919 SNPs and 851,595 InDels identified 21 SNPs and 6 InDels associated with hypoxia tolerance. Two SNPs on chromosomes 10 and 13 reached genome-wide significance, accounting for 2.7% and 4.8% of the phenotypic variance explained (PVE), respectively. Validation of identified SNPs was performed using kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) analysis. Candidate genes within ±50 kb of these variants were enriched in steroid biosynthesis, insulin signaling, and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis pathways. Transcriptomic analysis of six tissues (brain, gill, intestine, kidney, liver, and spleen) revealed 1620, 1221, 796, 246, 210, and 58 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the HT group compared to the HI group, respectively. DEGs in the brain were primarily enriched in steroid metabolic processes and angiogenesis regulation, while those in kidney and spleen DEGs were associated with oxygen transport and erythrocyte development. Integrated analysis of GWAS and transcriptome data identified 16 shared genes, including usf1 and trpv4. These findings reveal key genomic loci and molecular pathways underlying hypoxia tolerance in grass carp, providing valuable markers for future selective breeding programs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Iodine plays a central role in thyroid hormone synthesis and neurodevelopment. Its deficiency and excessive intake have been identified as risk factors for thyroid diseases and their consequences. The objective of the study was to analyze dietary iodine intake (dIi) and the factors that determine its intake among post-primary school students from northern Poland, specifically those from coastal areas and lake districts. Methods: The study was conducted on a sub-national sample of 3102 adolescents (1751 females and 1351 males) aged 14–20 years, recruited from schools located in the Northern (N) and North-Western (N-W) macroregions of Poland. Dietary iodine intake was assessed using the Iodine Dietary Intake Evaluation-Food Frequency Questionnaire. Based on the data obtained, the adequacy of the intake of this micronutrient was assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk, U Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman’s correlation analysis. Results: The median dIi was 66.83 µg daily, including 53 µg from natural sources. This value was below the recommended dietary allowance of 150 µg and below the estimated average requirement of 95 µg of iodine in 85% and 68% of the study participants, respectively. Milk and dairy products provided the highest iodine intake (26.4%). Iodine-enriched salt (16.2%) also significantly impacted iodine intake. However, 60% of respondents did not use iodized salt. The median iodine levels from natural sources were found to be low (dairy products: 15.02 µg, fish and fish products: 2.38 µg, and eggs: 2.10 µg). Dietary iodine intake was significantly lower in adolescents from the N than N-W macroregion of Poland (median: 65.63 vs. µg daily, 74.2 p < 0.001). However, dIi did not depend on sex (p = 0.10), age (p = 0.80), school location (p = 0.80), body mass index classification (p = 0.76), or iodine supplementation (p = 0.90). Conclusions: The study results indicate that insufficient iodine intake among adolescents in northern Poland can be attributed to a limited intake of iodine from natural food sources. A pressing need exists to closely monitor iodine intake and status among Polish adolescents and to implement nutritional education, focusing on the role of iodine, potential risks associated with iodine deficiency, and dietary sources of iodine. Full article