Search Results (163)

The placement of hydraulic elements in existing pool-type fishways to make them more suitable for Cyprinid fish is an issue of increasing interest in fishway research. Hydrodynamic characteristics and fish behavior at the representative pool of the fishway with bottom orifices and notches were assessed at the Dagdelen hydropower plant in the Ceyhan River Basin, Türkiye. Three-dimensional velocity measurements were taken in the pool of the fishway using an Acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The measurements were taken with and without a brush block at two different vertical distances from the bottom, which were below and above the level of bristles tips. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted for the studied fishway. The numerical model utilized Large Eddy Simulation (LES) combined with the Darcy–Forchheimer law, wherein brush blocks were represented as homogenous porous media. Our results revealed that the relative submergence of bristles in the brush block plays a very important role in velocity and Reynolds shear stress (RSS) distributions. After the placement of the submerged brush block, flow velocity and the lateral RSS component were reduced, and a resting area was created behind the brush block below the bristles’ tips. Fish movements in the pool were recorded by underwater cameras under real-time operation conditions. The heatmap analysis, which is a 2-dimensional fish spatial presence visualization technique for a specific time period, showed that Capoeta damascina avoided the areas with high turbulent fluctuations during the tests, and 61.5% of the fish presence intensity was found to be in the low Reynolds shear regions in the pool. This provides a clear case for the real-world ecological benefits of retrofitting existing pool-weir fishways with such flexible hydraulic elements. Full article

Nearly four decades have passed since fluorescence in situ hybridisation was first applied in plants to support molecular cytogenetic analyses across a wide range of species. Subsequent advances in DNA sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and microscopy, together with the immunolocalisation of various nuclear components, have provided unprecedented insights into the cytomolecular organisation of the nuclear genome in both model and non-model plants, with crop species being perhaps the most significant. The ready availability of sequenced genomes is now facilitating the application of state-of-the-art cytomolecular techniques across diverse plant species. However, these same advances in genomics also pose a challenge to the future of plant molecular cytogenetics, as DNA sequence analysis is increasingly perceived as offering comparable insights into genome organisation. This perception persists despite the continued relevance of FISH-based approaches for the physical anchoring of genome assemblies to chromosomes. Furthermore, cytogenetic approaches cannot currently rival purely genomic methods in terms of throughput, standardisation, and automation. This review highlights the latest key topics in plant cytomolecular research, with particular emphasis on chromosome identification and karyotype evolution, chromatin and interphase nuclear organisation, chromosome structure, hybridisation and polyploidy, and cytogenetics-assisted crop improvement. In doing so, it underscores the distinctive contributions that cytogenetic techniques continue to offer in genomic research. Additionally, we critically assess future directions and emerging opportunities in the field, including those related to CRISPR/Cas-based live-cell imaging and chromosome engineering, as well as AI-assisted image analysis and karyotyping. Full article

A LoRaWAN application architecture comprises three functional components: (i) nodes, which convert and wirelessly transmit data as LoRaWAN messages; (ii) gateways, which receive and forward these transmissions; and (iii) network servers, which process the received data for application delivery. The nodes convert data into LoRaWAN messages and transmit them wirelessly with the hope that one or more LoRaWAN gateway will receive the messages successfully. Then, the gateways pass on the received messages to a distant network server, where various processing steps occur before the messages are forwarded to the end application. If none of the gateways can receive the messages, then they will be lost. Although this default behaviour is suitable for some applications, there are others where ensuring messages are successfully delivered at a higher rate would be helpful. One such scenario is the application in this paper: monitoring maritime vessels and fishing equipment in offshore environments characterised by intermittent or absent shore connectivity. To address this challenge, the Custodian project was initiated to develop a maritime monitoring solution with enhanced connectivity capabilities. Two additional features are especially welcome in this scenario. The most important feature is the transmission of messages created in offshore areas to end users who are offshore, regardless of the unavailability of the ground network server. An example would be fishermen who are offshore and wish to position their fishing equipment, also offshore, based on location data transmitted from nodes via LoRaWAN, even when both entities are far away from the mainland. The second aspect concerns the potential use of gateway-to-gateway communications, through gateways on various ships, to transmit messages to the coast. This setup enables fishing gear and fishing vessels to be monitored from the coast, even in the absence of a direct connection. The functional constraints of conventional commercial gateways necessitated the conceptualisation and implementation of C-Mesh, a novel relay architecture that extends LoRaWAN functionality beyond standard protocol implementations. The C-Mesh integrates with the Custodian ecosystem, alongside C-Beacon and C-Point devices, while maintaining transparent compatibility with standard LoRaWAN infrastructure components through protocol-compliant gateway emulation. Thus, compatibility with both commercially available nodes and gateways and those already in deployment is guaranteed. We provide a comprehensive description of C-Mesh, describing its hardware architecture (communications, power, and self-monitoring abilities) and data processing ability (filtering duplicate messages, security, and encryption). Sea trials carried out on board a commercial fishing vessel in Sesimbra, Portugal, proved C-Mesh to be effective. Location messages derived from fishing gear left at sea were received by an end user aboard the fishing vessel, independently of the network server on land. Additionally, field tests demonstrated that a single C-Mesh deployment functioning as a signal repeater on a vessel with an antenna elevation of $15m$ above sea level achieved a quantifiable coverage extension of 13 km (representing a 20% increase in effective transmission range), demonstrating the capacity of C-Mesh to increase LoRaWAN’s coverage. Full article

Intensive fish farming worldwide has increased reliance on antibiotics to control bacterial pathogens, raising concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquaculture. These resistant bacteria can persist and pass through the food supply chain, from farms to consumers. Despite this risk, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in aquaculture environments and fish products have not been elucidated. This study aimed to detect ARGs found in the Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), an economically important fish in Thailand, collected from farms, fish container vehicles, and markets, using Nanopore metagenomic sequencing. We detected multiple ARGs in all sample types. Water samples harbored the rpsL gene conferring streptomycin resistance. Container samples exhibited the highest diversity of ARGs, including multiple beta-lactamases and the rsmA gene, conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones, diaminopyrimidines, and phenicol antibiotics. Fish samples generally lacked ARGs, except for one sample harboring rsmA. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed distinct microbial communities in water, compared with those found in container and fish samples, indicating potential cross-contamination during handling or storage. Our findings emphasize that containers could be critical control points for minimizing AMR spread. Overall, this study highlights the interconnection between environmental, fish, and human health, highlighting the importance of integrated AMR surveillance and management in aquaculture systems. Full article

The accurate estimation of Manning’s roughness coefficient (n) is critical for hydraulic modeling in open channels. In fish passes designed as close-to-nature structures, this coefficient has a strong influence on the overall design and operation. This study evaluates n for the Veľké Kozmálovce fish pass using high-resolution drone imagery and image analysis techniques to determine riverbed surface characteristics and extract a grain size distribution curve. Various empirical equations based on Strickler’s formula were applied to specific grain sizes, yielding average n values of 0.036 and 0.037. Cowan’s method, which considers surface material, irregularities, vegetation, obstructions, and meandering, provided an upper-bound estimate of 0.040. However, this method is known to overestimate roughness in some cases. The Step-by-Step method, applied with hydraulic field measurements, resulted in a narrower range of n from 0.027 to 0.037. Overall, estimated values across all methods ranged between 0.023 and 0.040, reflecting the structural complexity of the fish pass, which includes boulders embedded in concrete and coarse gravel infill. These findings highlight the limitations of using generalized tabulated values for artificial channels and demonstrate that drone-based photogrammetry combined with empirical and analytical approaches can effectively capture spatial variability in hydraulic roughness. Full article

Fish oil, a rich source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), is a vital nutritional component, but considering its susceptibility to oxidation, it could benefit from an effective encapsulation system. This study aims to optimize high-pressure homogenization (HPH) parameters (pressure, number of passes) and wall material composition to maximize the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of fish oil, using different concentrations of maltodextrin with Arabic gum or sodium alginate. Key metrics such as emulsion droplet size, encapsulation efficiency, color, and oxidation in the final freeze-dried product were evaluated. Optimal values were achieved at 60 MPa, resulting in the lowest mean droplet diameter (369.4 ± 3.8 nm) and narrow distribution (0.197 ± 0.011) of the fish oil micelles prepared with a mixture of Tween80 and sodium caseinate as an emulsifier, without significant oxidation after four cycles of homogenization, while 80 MPa led to the highest EE (up to 95.6%), but increased oxidation. The combination of 10% w/w Arabic gum or 1% w/w sodium alginate with 20% w/w maltodextrin achieved the highest EE (79.1–82.9%) and whiteness index (82.5–83.0), indicating neutral-colored well-encapsulated fish oil without oxidation, which is desirable for product stability. Selecting optimal HPH conditions and wall material is crucial for the encapsulation efficiency and oxidation stability of omega-3 PUFA delivered in dehydrated forms. Full article

Fishways can effectively validate the effectiveness and rationality of their construction, optimize operational modes, and achieve intelligent scientific management through fish species detection. Traditional fish species detection methods for fishways are unsuitable due to inefficiency and disruption of the fish ecological environment. Therefore, combining cameras with target detection technology provides a better solution. However, challenges include the limited computational power of onsite equipment, the complexity of model deployment, low detection accuracy, and slow detection speed, all of which are significant obstacles. This paper proposes a fish detection model for accurate and efficient fish detection. Firstly, the backbone network integrates FasterNet-Block, C2f, and an efficient multi-scale EMA attention mechanism to address attention dispersion problems during feature extraction, delivering real-time object detection across different scales. Secondly, the Neck introduces a novel architecture to enhance feature fusion by integrating the RepBlock and BiFusion modules. Finally, the performance of the fish detection model is demonstrated based on the Fish26 dataset, in which the detection accuracy, computational cost, and parameter count are significantly optimized by 1.7%, 23.4%, and 24%, respectively, compared to the state-of-the-art model. At the same time, we installed detection devices in a specific fishway and deployed the proposed method within these devices. We collected data on four fish species passing through the fishway to create a dataset and train the model. The results of the practical application demonstrated superior fish detection capabilities, with rapid detection ability achieved while minimizing resource usage. This validated the effectiveness of the proposed method for equipment deployment in real-world engineering environments. This marks a shift from traditional manual detection to intelligent fish species detection in fishways, promoting water resource utilization and the protection of fish ecological environments. Full article

Supernumerary (B) chromosomes are widespread in numerous plants, including the Lilium genus. However, their origin remains unclear. This study used traditional and modern cytogenetics to analyze the triploid lily cultivar ‘Eyeliner’ (LAA) to identify the microsporogenesis, fertility, and chromosome composition of its progeny and record a case of potential B chromosome formation. The results indicated anomalous meiosis of LAA in all processes. In microspores, different cells had different numbers of chromosomes and fragments. Moreover, the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results showed that some fragments contained telomere signals at both ends. The LAA × AA progenies were aneuploid, with one progeny containing a small aberrant chromosome (potential B chromosome). The genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) results showed that the aberrant chromosome originated from the L genome. In contrast, the FISH results showed that the aberrant chromosome contained two telomere signals. This suggests that the anomalous meiosis of the triploid lily forms chromosome bridges, fragments, and small aberrant chromosomes (isochromosome), which eventually form aneuploid gametes containing small aberrant chromosomes passed on to the progeny. This study provides a case in which the potential B chromosomes are derived from the A chromosomes. Full article

Recent advances in fish transportation technologies and deep machine learning-based fish classification have created an opportunity for real-time, autonomous fish sorting through a selective passage mechanism. This research presents a case study of a novel application that utilizes deep machine learning to detect partially dewatered fish exiting an Archimedes Screw Fish Lift (ASFL). A MobileNet SSD model was trained on images of partially dewatered fish volitionally passing through an ASFL. Then, this model was integrated with a network video recorder to monitor video from the ASFL. Additional models were also trained using images from a similar fish scanning device to test the feasibility of this approach for fish classification. Open source software and edge computing design principles were employed to ensure that the system is capable of fast data processing. The findings from this research demonstrate that such a system integrated with an ASFL can support real-time fish detection. This research contributes to the goal of automated data collection in a selective fish passage system and presents a viable path towards realizing optical fish sorting. Full article

Underwater fish image segmentation is a crucial technique in marine fish monitoring. However, typical underwater fish images often suffer from issues such as color distortion, low contrast, and blurriness, primarily due to the complex and dynamic nature of the marine environment. To enhance the accuracy of underwater fish image segmentation, this paper introduces an innovative neural network model that combines the attention mechanism with a feature pyramid module. After the backbone network processes the input image through convolution, the data pass through the enhanced feature pyramid module, where it is iteratively processed by multiple weighted branches. Unlike conventional methods, the multi-scale feature extraction module that we designed not only improves the extraction of high-level semantic features but also optimizes the distribution of low-level shape feature weights through the synergistic interactions of the branches, all while preserving the inherent properties of the image. This novel architecture significantly boosts segmentation accuracy, offering a new solution for fish image segmentation tasks. To further enhance the model’s robustness, the Mix-up and CutMix data augmentation techniques were employed. The model was validated using the Fish4Knowledge dataset, and the experimental results demonstrate that the model achieves a Mean Intersection over Union (MIoU) of 95.1%, with improvements of 1.3%, 1.5%, and 1.7% in the MIoU, Mean Pixel Accuracy (PA), and F1 score, respectively, compared to traditional segmentation methods. Additionally, a real fish image dataset captured in deep-sea environments was constructed to verify the practical applicability of the proposed algorithm. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: This should include a brief introduction about the general medical condition or relevant symptoms that will be discussed in the case report and should succinctly summarize the critical essential clinical information of the case report and emphasize its new and vital aspects. Case Presentation: A 72-year-old man diagnosed with DLBCL involving chromosomal translocations t(1;22)(q21;q11.2) and t(6;18)(p25;q21) showed primary refractory disease after the fourth cycle of R-CHOP. The patient ultimately experienced cardiac involvement due to the lymphoma and received salvage chemotherapy. He passed away about 15 months after the diagnosis of DLBCL. We conducted fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for further analysis of the chromosomal translocations. The breakpoint of chromosome 1q21 was located at a distance of around 151 Mb from the telomeric end of chromosome 1p. The breakpoint in chromosome 22q11 contains the immunoglobulin lambda locus. Furthermore, the breakpoint of chromosome 6p was in the telomeric region of chromosome 6p21. The breakpoint of chromosome 18q21 contains BCL2. Conclusions: This case report presents the first documented co-occurrence of chromosomal translocations t(1;22)(q21;q11.2) and t(6;18)(p25;q21) in a patient with DLBCL. These chromosomal translocations may indicate a worse clinical outcome. Full article

Dams severely affect aquatic environments and block the longitudinal migration of fish. In order to mitigate the negative effects generated by these developments, fish passes, or fishways, are implemented in dams with the purpose of restoring river connectivity and allowing the movement of migrants. Nevertheless, fishways in neotropical areas often face design and construction issues that can reduce their efficiency and selectively disadvantage species with limited swimming capabilities. This study analyzes how a fish ladder on the Paraná River influences the black armored catfish (Rhinelepis aspera), a benthic, long-distance migratory species important to commercial fisheries. A total of 200 individuals were PIT-tagged and monitored for four months. The results showed that although many fish successfully located the fishway, only a small portion (3.5%) managed to complete the ascent. The interaction between the hydraulic characteristics of the fishway and the fish condition factor played a significant role in ascent performance. Our findings underscore the importance of assessing fishway suitability for benthic neotropical species to support conservation efforts in the Upper Paraná River Basin. To improve passage rates for R. aspera, we recommend optimizing flow conditions by adjusting orifice and notch configurations, incorporating roughness elements, and modifying resting pool designs. These adaptations would reduce energy expenditure for ascending fish, enhancing fishway performance and contributing to the sustainability of migratory species in this region. Full article

Background: Balanced chromosomal translocations occur in approximately 0.16 to 0.20% of live births. While most carriers are phenotypically normal, they are at risk of generating unbalanced gametes during meiosis, leading to genetic anomalies such as aneuploidies, deletions, duplications, and gene disruptions. These anomalies can result in spontaneous abortions or congenital anomalies, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Complex chromosomal rearrangements (CCRs) involving more than two chromosomes are rare but further increase the probability of producing unbalanced gametes. Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Angelman syndrome (AS) and duplication 15q11q13 syndrome (Dup15q) are associated with such chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: This study describes a family with a de novo maternal balanced double translocation involving chromosomes 13, 19, and 15, resulting in two offspring with unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities. Cytogenetic evaluations were performed using GTG banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and low-pass whole-genome sequencing (LP-WGS). Methylation analysis was conducted using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) to diagnose Angelman syndrome. Results: The cytogenetic and molecular analyses identified an 8.9 Mb duplication in 15q11.2q13.3 in one child, and an 8.9 Mb deletion in the same region in the second child. Both abnormalities affected critical neurodevelopmental genes, such as SNRPN. FISH and MS-HRM confirmed the chromosomal imbalances and the diagnosis of Angelman syndrome in the second child. The maternal balanced translocation was found to be cryptic, contributing to the complex inheritance pattern. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of using multiple genetic platforms to uncover complex chromosomal rearrangements and their impact on neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings underscore the need for thorough genetic counseling, especially in families with such rare chromosomal alterations, to manage reproductive outcomes and neurodevelopmental risks. Full article

Understanding the factors influencing the variability in the composition of fish assemblages is essential for bolstering the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, effective coral reef management and maintaining sustainable fisheries. The benthic composition and reef fish assemblages at eight sites at the poorly studied St. Brandon, also known as a bank fisheries area in the Indian Ocean, were assessed to discern distribution patterns, including differences between channel (Passe Grand Capitaine, Passe Ile Longue-Canal Coco and Passe La Cayane) and non-channel (Chaloupe, Anchor Points 1 and 2, Bain des Dames, Pearl Island) sites and fisheries sustainability. The benthic composition exhibited clusters, revealing the distinct separation of Chaloupe which predominantly featured sand (75.26%) interspersed with sporadic coral patches characterized by live and dead corals and rubble. The three channel sites composed a cluster. Coral species across eight families were identified, with significant variability (p < 0.05) observed in their benthic cover, particularly live coral cover (LCC). Fish density and diversity analyses unveiled 58 fish species from 12 families, with no statistically significant disparity in density among sites. Total fish biomass (TFB) and target fish biomass (TB) ranged from 138.02 ± 65.04 to 4110.16 ± 3048.70 kg/ha and from 28.31 ± 24.52 to 3851.27 ± 2753.18 kg/ha, respectively. TFB and TB differed significantly (p < 0.05) among sites irrespective of channel and non-channel sites, with Pearl Island recording the highest biomass. TFB and TB recorded at five out of the eight surveyed sites exceeded the mean biomass benchmark (B₀) for the Western Indian Ocean, set at 1150.00 and 560.00 kg/ha for TFB and TB, respectively. Functional group analysis unveiled six discrete groups influencing TFB, with scrapers being the most dominant. This study presents the first report on fish biomass surveys in St. Brandon, highlighting a case for sustainable fisheries in the waters of the Republic of Mauritius. Full article

Fish passes are a key element enabling the migration of aquatic organisms in the context of restrictions resulting from the presence of weirs. Multi-criteria decision analysis, AHP, and Rembrandt methods were used to assess the effectiveness of fish passes on mountain rivers. Three common types of fish passes were considered: slotted fish pass, block ramps, and a circulation channel with boulders. The results of the study indicated that block ramps proved to be the most favourable solution, achieving the highest preference values in both methods (Rembrandt: 0.77, AHP: 0.63). The key factors influencing the effectiveness of the fish passes are the availability of space and the water requirements, which reached values of 0.38 and 0.27 in the Rembrandt method and 0.33 and 0.28 in the AHP method, respectively. The differences between the results of both methods were minimal and did not have a significant impact on the final choice. The discussion emphasised the advantage of nature-like fish passes, such as block ramps, which better preserve the ecological continuity of rivers and can be more easily adapted to local hydrological conditions. The study also indicated the need for continuous monitoring of the fish passes and their optimisation to reduce problems related to sedimentation and flow blocking. The obtained results can provide a valuable basis for decision making in the planning and construction of fish passes, especially in demanding mountainous conditions, contributing to improving the effectiveness of fish migration and minimising negative impacts on the natural environment. Full article