Ice Box Research Articles

Muscle Proteins, Technological Properties, and Free Amino Acids of Epaxial Muscle Collected from Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) at Different Postmortem Durations

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in the epaxial muscle proteins of Asian seabass at two different postmortem durations. The epaxial muscles of Asian seabass were collected 1 h or 24 h postmortem (PM). Whole, ungutted fish were stored in an ice box, with the ice refilled every two hours. The results show significant increases in the MFI values and the contents of solubilized sarcoplasmic proteins, with a molecular weight of proteins of 47 kDa in the 24 h PM samples (p < 0.05). Myofibrillar and alkaline-soluble proteins in the epaxial muscle remained intact 24 h postmortem. Compared with the 1 h PM samples, the 24 h PM meat exhibited lower degrees of expressible water and hardness (p < 0.05), indicating superior water-holding capacity and meat tenderness. However, no differences in springiness or cohesiveness of the cooked meat were observed. Free L-glutamic acid, known as an umami-tasting amino acid, was significantly increased upon the extension of postmortem duration, and its level was above the taste threshold concentration. Overall, the findings indicated that the 24 h PM epaxial muscle of Asian seabass exhibited superior technological properties, along with higher contents of taste-related amino acids.

Investigating Cardiac Temperature During Heart Transplantation Using the Static Cold Storage Paradigm.

Static cold storage is a mainstay of the heart transplantation (HTx) process. However, the temperature distribution within the organ at each stage of HTx is unknown. In this study, we aimed to quantify how long it took for the heart to warm up and cool down and the nature of temperature distribution with the organ at each stage of HTx. We used high-fidelity computational time-varying biothermal modeling on an anatomical human heart model to model the HTx process in 5 interdependent stages, including cardioplegia, back-table preparation, static cold storage ice box storage and transport, back-table preparation at the recipient institution and warm-up within the recipient body before cross-clamp release. Results indicate that the heart experiences roller-coaster-like temperature changes in stage, including rapid cool down from body temperature to <10 °C within 15 min in stage 1 with a maximum cooling rate of 5 °C/min. This was followed by cooling and extended duration of temperatures <2 °C in the ice box and rapid warming up to body temperature within 10 min at rates of 2 °C/min and 4 °C/min for the left and right sides, respectively, during implantation. Temperature distribution throughout the heart was heterogeneous, with right-sided temperature change occurring nearly 2× faster than on the left side. We present, for the first time, detailed temperature distributions and evolution at each stage of HTx. Quantification of the rapid and heterogeneous temperature changes is crucial to optimize HTx and improve organ viability.

Design optimization of a marine refrigeration system with waste heat recovery channel

This paper presents the design of an optimized marine refrigeration system to be used as a preservation facility for fishermen on boats. This aims to help preserve and maintain the high quality of the catch during fishing operations. This is to replace the manual ice box method. The system is tested in an actual environment offshore. The lowest temperature reached inside the refrigeration when full load is -1.7°C with a maximum time of 6 hours, while the temperature of the fish inside the refrigeration is 2.5°C. These results show the capability of the enhanced marine refrigeration system to achieve the desired temperature for the catch to maintain its good quality. In addition, the usability and user experience survey results indicated that the target beneficiaries agreed that the following aspects of the marine refrigeration system include usefulness and functionality, ease of use, design capacity, dimension, aesthetics, and kerosene as the resources used are excellent. Keywords: Absorption, Kerosene, Marine Refrigeration

Prevalence of Smear-Positive, Rifampicin-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Related Factors Among Residents with Cough in Northern Ethiopian Refugee Health Facilities.

To ascertain the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) among refugees suspected of tuberculosis (TB) and related risk factors, including smear-positive and Rifampicin-resistant M.tb. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2020 and May 2020 among 384 refugees in four refugee camps in Northwest Tigray, Ethiopia. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from refugees with a history of cough for more than two weeks prospectively. Spot-spot sputum samples were collected and transported in an ice box to the Shire Suhul Hospital Microbiology laboratory; and then examined using a Fluorescent Microscope. All smear-positive samples were further processed by GeneXpert to detect Rifampicin-resistant MTB. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of smear-positive PTB infection was 5.5% (21/384), but No TB case was resistant to Rifampicin detected by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay. About 70% of the smear-positive pulmonary TB identified were females. Five (23.8%) of the smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases were co-infected by HIV. Sharing of drink and food materials (AOR = 4.36, 95% CI = 1.19-15.89), active TB contact (AOR 7.24, 95% CI = 1.62-32.125), BMI (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI = 1.28-21.29), opening window practice (AOR = 4.32, 95% CI = 1.02-18.30) and HIV status (AOR = 9.36, 95% CI = 1.64-53.35) were statistically significant predisposing factors. The prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary TB among northwest Tigray refugee camps was still high. The prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection was also high. Minimizing close contact with active TB cases, reducing malnutrition, rapid TB/HIV screening, and establishing a ventilation system can reduce the transmission of TB among refugees.

Vaccimon Device: A Design and Development of Vaccine Carrier Monitoring Device for COVID-19 Vaccines

Vaccination is one of the effective programs to combat the devastating effects of COVID-19. These vaccines are handled carefully and monitored from their suppliers down to the vaccination sites, preserving the quality. Current vaccine tracking device implementation needs the opening of the vaccine carrier, which leads to the risk of exposure to unwanted light and temperature. This paper aims to design and develop a device for vaccine carriers to aid health workers in monitoring vaccines without exposure to unwanted conditions. The development was done working closely with target end users and made iterations before making the monitoring device available. The monitoring device attached to the off-the-shelf ice box used an ESP32 development board with sensors programmed in Arduino IDE. The device has undergone 8-hour and 24-hour temperature tests. The designed monitoring device on the test could record an acceptable temperature range for 22 hours and 26 minutes. The results indicate that the monitoring device can run reliably, even for an extended period. The off-the-shelf ice box used with the monitoring device can be a viable alternative to the scarce and expensive WHO-accepted vaccine carriers. The monitoring device can also be used with other vaccines if the temperature requirement ranges from 2°C to 8°C.

GROWTH PATTERN OF ATYA GABONENSIS AND MACROBRACHIUM MACROBRACHION FROM LOWER RIVER BENUE, MAKURDI–NIGERIA

Data on growth parameters of Atya gabonensis and Macrobrachium macrobrachion were collected over a period of 6 months from August 2021 to January 2022. A total of one hundred and seventy (170) specimens of M. macrobrachion and two hundred and forty (240) specimens of A.gabonensis were hand-picked under rocks and crevices under the water by the help of fishermen who dived in, while M. macrobrachium were trapped using unbaited local non-return basket trap made of bamboo and a non-return set trap. The collected samples were transported live to the fisheries laboratory, University of Agriculture, Makurdi in ice box containing water for further analysis using independent sample t-test to determine the mean values.The result of the length weight relationship revealed that apart from fig 4. Fig. 1, 2, 3 and 5 showed a strong correlation between the length and weight of the two (2) species (R2=0.8615), (R² = 0.8812), (R2=0.8761), (R2=0.5523), (R2=0.7482) and the b values were less than three (3) which shows a negative allometric growth.Apart from gut length ,gut weight and carapace length in table 2 the result for seasonal variation in some morphometric parameters in Atya gabonensis and Macrobrachun macrobrachion differed significantly in both seasons (wet and dry). The result for the morphormetric parameters for table 3 and 4 all showed significant differences. It was concluded that this species exhibit an allometric growth pattern. I therefor recommend more work be done in other areas of the biology of these prawns inorder to provide accurate informations for their domestication.

Microplastic Quantification in Aquatic Birds: Biomonitoring the Environmental Health of the Panjkora River Freshwater Ecosystem in Pakistan.

Microplastic pollution has become a global concern, with potential negative impacts on various ecosystems and wildlife species. Among these species, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are particularly vulnerable due to their feeding habits and proximity to aquatic environments contaminated with microplastics. The current study was designed to monitor microplastic (MP) pollutants in the freshwater ecosystem of the Panjkora River, Lower Dir, Pakistan. A total of twenty (20) duck samples were brought up for four months and 13 days on the banks of the river, with no food intake outside the river. When they reached an average weight of 2.41 ± 0.53 kg, all samples were sacrificed, dissected, and transported in an ice box to the laboratory for further analysis. After sample preparation, such as digestion with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), density separation, filtration, and identification, the MP content was counted. A total of 2033 MP particles were recovered from 20 ducks with a mean value of 44.6 ± 15.8 MPs/crop and 57.05 ± 18.7 MPs/gizzard. MPs detected in surface water were 31.2 ± 15.5 MPs/L. The major shape types of MPs recovered were fragments in crop (67%) and gizzard (58%) samples and fibers in surface water (56%). Other types of particles recovered were fibers, sheets, and foams. The majority of these detected MP particles were in the size range of 300-500 µm (63%) in crops, and 50-150 µm (55%) in gizzards, while in water samples the most detected particles were in the range of 150-300 µm (61%). Chemical characterization by FTIR found six types of polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) had the greatest polymer detection rate (39.2%), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (28.3%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (22.7%), polystyrene (6.6%), co-polymerized polypropylene (2.5%), and polypropylene homopolymer (0.7%). This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the crops and gizzards of ducks, as well as in river surface water. The results revealed the significant and pervasive occurrence of microplastics in both the avian digestive systems and the surrounding water environment. These findings highlight the potential threat of microplastic pollution to wildlife and ecosystems, emphasizing the need for further research and effective mitigation strategies to address this pressing environmental concern.

Organoleptic Assessment of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Stored in Different Temperatures

The current study was conducted to assess the freshness and pattern of spoiling of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored at various temperatures. Nile tilapia purchased from NAQDA - Dambulla with same harvest and size; transported to the laboratory in ice boxes. Fish were randomly divided into four equal groups and stored in 4°C (n=6), -4°C (n=6), -10°C (n=6) &amp; -20°C (n=6) temperatures. Basically, samples were evaluated for 41 days; daily for first five days &amp; then once in two days for six days, once in three days for nine days &amp; finally once in a week for 3 weeks. Organoleptic and demerit points were calculated. From the results, there were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in freshness of tilapia stored in four different temperatures. However, freshness deterioration in -10°C and -20°C were relatively slow but in 4°C it was rapid. In Sensory evaluation rejection was held at after 3 days (4°C), 14 days (-4°C), 27 days (-10°C) and 34 days (-20°C). Significantly positive correlation was observed between freshness deterioration and storage period r=0.99 (4°C), r=0.98 (-4°C), r=0.90 (-10°C) and r=0.92 (-20°C).

Physiochemical properties and sensory evaluation of mish "A traditional fermented dairy product" processed from different whey levels

The current study looked at the chemical composition and sensory evaluation of Mish manufactured by different whey levels during storage. Samples o Mish were manufactured (day one) from five different levels of whey (A, B, C, D, and E), transported to the laboratory in an ice box, and stored at 7o C for 14 days. Samples were analyzed for total solids, moisture, ash, crude protein, fat, pH, acidity, and sensory evaluation (texture, flavor, color, and taste) at 1, 7, and 14 days. Fat, protein, total solids, ash, acidity, and pH were all higher in A and E, except for moisture, which was higher in E and lower in A. Except for total solids, moisture, fat, protein, ash content, and pH declined to a minimum at day 14, whereas acidity increased to a maximum at day 14. Toward the end of storage, the fat content in E declined little while increasing in A. Protein content decreased in E towards the end and climbed in A. At the conclusion of storage, total solids and ash concentrations fell somewhat in all treatments, while acidity increased in all treatments. The sensory evaluation results showed that the first treatment (A) was improved on all treatments. At the same time, during the storage periods, the production on day one was a preference, then after seven days, then after 14 days

SPECIES COMPOSITION, SIZE DISTRIBUTION, CONDITION FACTOR AND GROWTH PATTERN OF CICHLIDS FROM ZOBE RESERVOIR, DUTSIN-MA, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA.

The species composition, size distribution, condition factor and growth pattern of cichlids from Zobe reservoir Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State was investigated between August and November 2022, with a view to understanding the distribution and well-being of cichlids in the water body. One hundred (100) cichlids were sampled from two (2) major landing sites (Makera and Garhi) of the reservoir, the fish were identified and separated before being transported in an ice box to the laboratory Biology Laboratory of the Federal University Dutsin-ma. At the laboratory, the length was measured to the nearest centimeter using a ruler while a sensitive weighing scale was used to measure the weight in grams. The results showed that four species were identified; Oreochromis niloticus (40), Oreochromis aureus (21), Sarotherodon galilaeus (21) and Coptodon zilli (18). The mean total length and weight were significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) in O. niloticus compared to other species. The least was observed in O. aureus although it was not different significantly compared with C. zilli and S. galilaeus. The condition factor (K) of &gt;1 was obtained in all the species with O. niloticus having the highest value of 2.26 which was significantly higher than 1.48 observed in O. aureus. All the species showed negative allometric growth, however, C. Zilli and O. aureus were very close to isometric growth with b values of 2.96 and 2.85 respectively. Although negative allometric growth was observed in all the species, the K values of &gt;1 showed that all the cichlids in the Zobe reservoir are healthy and in good biological condition

Concordance and Disconcordance of Serum Levels of Leptin with Leucocyte Telomere Length Across Spectrum of Adult Body Mass Index Among Indian Rural Population

Background: Obesity is a prominent avoidable cause of mortality and a growing health concern in both adults and children throughout the world. The study's goal is to measure leucocyte telomere length and its relationship with leptin throughout the BMI spectrum.&#x0D; Material &amp; Method: This cross sectional study was conducted among patients attending tertiary care hospital fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The serum taken from these samples was numbered and sent to the lab in an ice box for Leptin and Telomere length analysis. Telomere length was measured in leukocytes using the qPCR method.&#x0D; Result: Total of 360 patients with mean age of the patients 47.84±15.84yrs, equally distributed in age group of 25-39yrs, 40-54yrs and &gt;=55yrs of age. A significant negative strength of association of BMI with telomere length (r=-0.21, p&lt;0.05) and a significant association of waist to hip ratio with telomere length (r=0.24, p&lt;0.05). No significant relation between telomere length with the serum level of Leptin (r=0.09, p=0.386). &#x0D; Conclusion: The mean Telomere length correlated negatively with BMI and age. In the current investigation, leptin had no significant connection with telomere length.

Nematode and Coccidia Infections in Singing Birds Kept in Bird Stalls

Singing birds are adored by so many people in the Special Region of Yogyakarta because of their beautiful voices. Even so, these birds have the possibility to carry endoparasitic infections, namely nematode and coccidia. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of nematode and coccidia infection in singing birds traded in bird stalls in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The singing birds were categorized into five feeding guilds, consisting of 19 herbivores, 19 granivores, 31 omnivores, 20 insectivores, and five carnivores. Thirty-seven birds kept in colony cages (eg. 4-6 birds of the same species in one cage) and 57 birds kept in individual cages were used in this study. Fresh faeces was sampled and transported in ice box to the laboratory for parasitological examination. Whitlock method was used to assess the presence of endoparasites. The incidence of endoparasites infection was analyzed descriptively. The result showed that 5.32% of the birds were infected by nematode and 30% by coccidia. Based on the cage systems, the incidence of nematode infection in the birds kept in the colony cage was 10.8%, whereas those in the individual cage was at the lower level of 1.8%. The incidence of coccidia infection in birds kept in colony and in individual cages was 35% and 26%, respectively. Based on the feeding guild categories, nematode infection was found in herbivores (10.5%), granivores (10.5%), and omnivores (3.2%). The coccidia infection was observed in herbivorous (47.4%), omnivorous (41.9%), granivorous (15.7%), and insectivorous (15%) birds. Maintenance management needs to be considered to prevent and eradicate endoparasites infection in singing birds kept individually or in colonies.

Keep cool! Observed temperature variations at different process stages of the biobanking workflow – examples from the Leipzig medical biobank

Abstract Objectives Biobanked samples are becoming increasingly important for research outcomes. Most of the biobanking processes (from preparation to storage) are affected by temperature in a time-dependent manner and have a high impact on sample quality. We aimed to validate time and temperature sensitive processes such as sample preparation, transport, sorting, and storage, which have a high impact on sample quality. Methods Temperature was measured using internal or external temperature data loggers. We analysed the temperature and present real data from our sample transport on dry ice and with the CryoPod, from our ultra-low temperature freezers (UTFs) of different manufacturers and cryostores. We also tested sample sorting on dry ice and in a cryogenic workbench. Results In the UTFs, we identified temperature zones with a temperature difference from 4.7 °C up to 20.8 °C across the whole UTF. For sample transport within approximately 30 min we observed temperatures of −80.2 °C ± 4.0 °C and −173.9 °C ± 16.9 °C for dry ice boxes and the CryoPod, respectively. Sorting on dry ice was best in a polystyrene box half-filled with dry ice pellets, although the temperature increased by 7.5 °C within the first 5 min, whereas the temperature in the cryogenic workbench remained stable below −100 °C for hours. Conclusions Time and temperature play a crucial role in the entire biobanking process, with sometimes immense temperature fluctuations in some equipment. We recommend the validation or verification of all equipment and processes used to avoid pre-analytical errors in accordance with DIN EN ISO 20387.

Exploration and remediation ability test of indigenous bacteria from rice field pemalang regency on lead (Pb) contamined soil

The research aims to obtain isolates and determine the morphological characteristics of bacteria that are resistant to Lead (Pb) contamination. The materials and tools used were soil from conventional rice farming land, Nutrient Agar (NA) medium, alcohol 70%, aquades, PbNO3 solution, aluminum foil, cling wrap, heat-resistant plastic, spiritus, physiological solution of 0.85% NaCl, autoclave, test tubes, petri dishes, erlenmeyer flasks, measuring cylinder, beaker glass, laminar air flow (LAF), shaker, magnetic stirrer, micropipette, refrigerator, analytical balance, ose needle, pH meter, vortex, ice box, shovel , tube racks, bunsen, stationery, labels, and other supporting materials and equipment. This research is a sampling research and continued with laboratory tests including bacterial isolation, colony count calculation and macromorphological characterization. The data obtained from morphological observations are presented in the form of descriptions, while quantitative data are presented in the form of numbers and are used as primary data. The results of isolating bacteria with NA medium added with 5 ppm lead, there are five bacterial isolates were selected, namely KMPb O, KT1Pb C, KT2Pb H, KB1Pb H, and KB2Pb K. Based on the TPC (Total Plate Count) test with a range of 30-300 colonies, the number of bacterial colonies ranged from 10,45 x 106 – 28,9 x 106 CFU/ml. The colony morphological characteristics of the five bacterial isolates were dominated by round in shape, smooth texture and flat elevation.

Detection of Some Causes of Feline Eye Infections in Baghdad City.

The current study aimed to determine the causes associated with ocular infection in cats received at Baghdad veterinary hospital from March 2020 to April 2021. Forty cats (22 females and 18 males) were examined at a small animal clinic in Baghdad veterinary hospital from March 2020 to April 2021. The cats suffered from severe eyes infection (inflammation, lacrimation, redness and other ocular signs). On the other hand, ten healthy cats were examined and prepared for bacterial isolation as a control group. For bacterial isolation, sterile cotton swabs with transport medium were taken gently from the corneal and conjunctiva area of infected eyes. The swabs were placed in an ice box within 24 hours for laboratory culture. Sterile swabs with transport media were used in our study; swabs passed directly on the inferior conjunctival sac of the compromised eye avoiding contact with eyelashes and skin of eyelids. All swabs were inoculated on the following media (5% Sheep blood agar, MacConkey agar and Nutrient agar) at 37ºC for 24 to 48 h.ImmunoChromatoGraphy assay (ICG) of FCV on samples. The results showed that 50%of Mixed bacterial and FCV were the significant cause of isolates; also, it showed that S. aureus was the most bacterial cause of eye infection; young females were mostly infected in February. In conclusion, the wide distribution of ocular infections in cats is due to different causes, especially with bacteria, including Staphylococcus spp. and virus (FCV). The seasonal variation between months plays a significant factor in the spreading of eye infections in the feline.

Quality Assessment of Litopenaeus Vannamei Shrimp

This study aimed to throw the light on the nutritional value and quality of shell fish in addition to knowing the incipient spoilage of shellfish through definition of , evaluation of chemical composition of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp (Total protein, Total fat, Total fiber, Humidity and ash), chemical analysis of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp to determine its quality (pH, TVN, TBA and FFA) and evaluation of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp quality. The study was carried-out on Shrimp samples from Berkeit Ghalioun, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. The samples was collected during the summer season of 2022. All samples were transported directly fresh to laboratory in ice box (at 5 – 10 oC), within 2 – 3 hours for examination. The collected 70 shrimp (30 shrimp fresh and 40 shrimp frozen) were examined for sensory and biochemical evaluation at different periods of the study. The bacteriological evaluation was made on fresh (30 samples at different densities 100 m2 and 200 m2 of breeding) and the 70 frozen samples. This study concluded that, the sensory evaluation characters that includes colour, head/chest and tail , legs, shell and tentacles , eyes, dour and meat cleared that, the shrimp during its storage period that ranged from 1 to 20 days , the shrimp in agood quality conditions where its quantitative score ranged from 10 to 1 for the storage shrimp at 1 and 20 day. While, the results of constituent evaluation that includes protein %, fat %, moisture %, ash %, and the product evaluations that includes TBA %, TVBN %, pH, decreased with increasing the period of storage from 0 to 72 hours, while, the level of bacterial count (Total viable count, enterobacteriacae, coliforms, total staphylococci and staph. aureus counts increased with increasing the period of storage. Good preservation and application of good hygiene principlrs during catching improved the quality of shrimp.

The Influence of Agroclimate, Gandatapa Village, Sumbang Subdistrict on Microbial Profile, Brix Values, and Total Sugar, Naturally Spread Coconut Sap

Temperature and relative humidity are factors that affect the microbial profile and brix value of coconut sap. High temperature and relative humidity tend to support microbial growth. On the other hand, high relative humidity will reduce the brix value and total coconut sap sugar. Therefore, it is necessary to study the relationship between agro-climatic conditions with microbial profile, brix value and total sugar in organically run coconut sap in Gandatapa Village. This research is expected to provide benefits for those who need coconut sap as a source of S. cerevisiae and as a raw material for the manufacture of brown sugar. Coconut sap samples were taken using a simple random technique. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded for each sampling. 250 ml of coconut sap was put into a sterile plastic bottle and then using an ice box, it was taken to the Agricultural Technology Laboratory for analysis. The analysis carried out included total microbes, total yeast, total bacteria, yeast percentage, brix value and total coconut sap sugar. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation to determine the relationship and the degree of closeness. The results showed that temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with the microbial profile of organically dissolved coconut sap. At an air temperature of 28.4oC and an air humidity of 81%, the total microbes of organically run coconut sap were 6.45 logs, the total yeast was 4.28 log cfu/ml, the total bacteria were 2.52 log cfu/ml and the yeast percentage was 72, 75%. Brix values ​​and total sugar under the same conditions were 16.7% and 8.25%. The value of brix and total sugar of coconut sap is negatively correlated with temperature and relative humidity. There is a strong relationship between temperature and total microbial, brix value and total sugar. The correlation coefficient is 0.71, respectively; -0.81 and -0.78. Strong correlations were also observed between relative humidity and total microbial, total yeast and brix values. The correlation coefficient is 0.85, respectively; 0.82; and -0.83.

Microbial Contamination and Proximate Carcass of Cod (Gadus morhua) Obtained from Local Markets of Imo State

The microbial and proximate quality of Cod Gadus morhua obtained from cold room and open markets of three Local Government Areas of Imo state, Nigeria was carried using standard mehods. Microbial analysis revealed that the total viable count for the fish species sampled from cold room ranged from 5.3 x 104 – 9.5 x 104 cfu/g while that of the open market samples ranged from 8.0 x 104cfu/g to 2.8 x 105cfu/g. Total Fungal Count (TFC) had increasing microbial values in the open markets than in the cold rooms and ranged from 1.0 x 103cfu/g to 7.2 x 103cfu/g for cold room samples whereas a range of 1.0 x 105cfu/g to 3.4 x 105cfu/g was obtained for open markets. Generally, ten bacterial species and nine fungal species were isolated and identified during characterization from the cold room and open market samples, bacteria being Micrococcus spp., Stphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp. while fungi include Geotrichum spp., Candida spp., Rhizopus stolonifera, Mucor spp., Rhodotorula spp., and four species of Aspergillus. Result for proximate composition shows that crude protein cold room value was 17.24 ±0.52 but significantly increased in the open market samples (19.44±0.94) just as there was significant difference in crude fiber values of cold room (6.98±0.54) and open markets (ranged between 3.04±0.81 and 4.39±1.30). On the other hand, an insignificant increase in values of moisture content, NFE, ash content and ether extract but with values reducing from cold room (1.30±0.62 and 1.06±0.50) to open market (0.12±0.70 and 1.00±1.00) as their minimum value for the later. It is suggested that fish be appropriately handled in ice boxes during transport and storage before sale especially in the absence of refrigerators so as to reduce microbial contamination and maintain its original proximate value.

Addressing Amazonian Fish Diversity Using Environmental DNA (eDNA): A First Glance

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is considered to be an innovative method that can be used in the detection and identification of species present in aquatic environments, adding the advantage of describing the ichthyofauna without capturing the organisms. Out of the two possible approaches of eDNA, the metabarcoding approach aims to identify the diversity of a specific taxon and its composition using a universal DNA primer. This approach has grown considerably in recent years, although most studies focus on temperate regions, which causes a lack of clarity about the potential of the method in tropical regions since these have very distinct abiotic characteristics, as well as a higher diversity of fauna and flora. Therefore, as a way to verify the potential use of eDNA metabarcoding, this study focused on the Neotropical region, specifically the Amazon basin, a place with the highest ichthyofaunistic biodiversity in the world. As such, the goal of this study was to detect the composition of the main taxonomic groups of fish in the small stream Tarumã-Mirim, an acidic blackwater river that is located nearby Manaus city and is part of an environmental protection area near the city of Manaus, Brazil. For that, water samples of 6 L were collected along the river at 5 points (totaling 30 L). The water samples were stored in ice boxes and transported to the laboratory for filtration in fiberglass filters. Following the filtration and the extraction of eDNA, the samples were amplified in PCRs machines, using the universal primers MiFish developed by Miya et al., (2015). The next steps were: the construction of eDNA libraries, the sequencing on Illumina – Miseq platform, and a bioinformatic analysis. For the taxonomic identification of the eDNA sequences we used the sequences deposited in GenBank and the reference database developed specifically for Amazonian fish. The application and efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding for the samples, identified 42 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), which were grouped into six orders and eight families. A refined approach identified seven species and one genus. In addition, since eDNA samples were obtained along the entire river, it was possible to build a distribution map of fish species. Despite the limitation in identifying the abundance of all taxonomic groups present in the Tarumã-Mirim River, the metabarcoding approach for the eDNA was able to identify the species that have their contemporary distribution in the Amazonian rivers, as well as the detection of the three main groups of fish. Thus, the method may serve as a complement to ecological studies for the detection, identification and monitoring the Amazonian ichthyofauna. These results show that the eDNA approach needs to be optimized in tropical regions since the biotic and abiotic characteristics, which are peculiar to the tropics (acidic waters, high temperatures, etc.), may affect the adequate detection of the rich biodiversity of such sites

Genetic mapping and meta-analysis identifies several candidate genes for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit quality traits

Citron (Citrullus amarus), a wild relative of watermelon possesses white flesh with coarse texture and bland/bitter taste; this may cause undesirable effect on quality in watermelon breeding. It is therefore important to understand the genomic regions/genes governing fruit quality, while using this species in introgressive breeding to avoid linkage drag. Hence, in the current experiment an attempt has been made to understand genes/QTLs governing important fruit quality traits in an inbred line derived from C. amarus. BIL-53 (P1) characterized by creamish white flesh, low TSS, red colored seeds and flat fruit shape; and ice box type inbred line, IIHR-140–152 (P2) characterized by dark red colored flesh, high TSS, black colored seeds and oblong fruit shape were used as parents for this QTLs study. Among 693 markers screened, 202 (29.14%) markers were found to be polymorphic and were used for linkage map construction and QTL mapping. QTL mapping identified eleven major QTLs for fruit shape on chromosome 3, 4 and 11. Candidate gene analysis in these regions validated Cla011257 gene on chromosome 3 and predicted Cla016683 gene in a novel QTL region on chromosome 11 as a putative candidate for fruit shape. Similarly, one novel QTL was identified for total soluble solids on chromosome 11, candidate gene analysis in this region predicted Cla016890 and Cla016891 genes as putative candidates. For flesh color, this is the first attempt to map the genes/QTLs governing flesh color at the different regions of fruit through visual and colorimetric analysis. Results revealed fifteen major QTLs on chromosome 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 for flesh color at different regions. Candidate gene analysis predicted Cla020214 and Cla020121 on chromosome 2; Cla005011 on chromosome 4; Cla018767, Cla018768, Cla018769, Cla018770, Cla018771 on chromosome 6; Cla017416 and Cla017593 on chromosome 10 as a probable candidates genes governing flesh color at different regions. The results presented here provide valuable information for future studies on functional validation of putative candidate genes and breeding of important fruit quality traits in watermelon.