This survey discusses recent developments in the context of spherical designs and minimal energy point configurations on spheres. The recent solution of the long standing problem of the existence of spherical t-designs on S with O(td) number of points by A. Bondarenko, D. Radchenko, and M. Viazovska attracted new interest to this subject. Secondly, D. P. Hardin and E. B. Saff proved that point ...

A partial sequence of the mtDNA ND5 gene region was used for population study in Persian sturgeon (west and east areas of southern Caspian Sea). The result showed that although this approach was informative for phylogenetic study in sturgeon, it was less informative for population study in Persian sturgeon. 

Measurements of branchial cavity water pressures and flow patterns, arterial blood PO2 and pH, and oxygen utilization and uptake have been made in undisturbed, free swimming sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus. Although the jaws are degenerate and the oral apparatus is highly modified for feeding, gill ventilation is nonetheless powered by a buccal force pump and an opercular suction pump common ...

In 2009, juvenile pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus, reared at the Blind Pony State Fish Hatchery (Missouri, USA) to replenish dwindling wild stocks, experienced mass mortality. Histological examination revealed extensive necrosis of the haematopoietic tissues, and a virus was isolated from affected organs in cell culture and then observed by electron microscopy. Experimental infection studi...

In species with long life cycles and discontinuous availability of individuals to reproduction, implementing a long-term captive breeding program can be difficult or impossible. In such cases, managing diversity among familiar groups instead of individuals could become a suitable approach to avoid inbreeding and increase the possibility to accomplish a breeding scheme. This is the case of sever...

Studies of innate immunity in fish species of special concern are essential for better understanding of their health status during hatchery rearing conditions. The cytochemical and morphological characterizations of blood granulocytes have been used to provide information about phylogenetic differences and determine the potential use of neutrophil function assays. Rapid, simple, cytochemical st...

BACKGROUND More fish have been afforded US Endangered Species Act protection than any other vertebrate taxonomic group, and none has been designated as recovered. Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) occupy large rivers and estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North America, and the species has been protected by the US Endangered Species Act since its enactment. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL ...

Sturgeon spermatozoa maturation during their passage through the kidney is a prerequisite for initiation of motility. Samples of sterlet () testicular sperm (TS) were matured in vitro by incubation in seminal fluid (SF) or in SF supplemented with carbonyl cyanide -chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP; a respiration uncoupling agent). Sperm was diluted in activation medium (AM) containing 10 m Tris-HCl ...

The elucidation of the cDNA sequence for sturgeon proorphanin provides a unique window for interpreting the evolutionary history of the opioid/orphanin gene family. The molecular "fossil" status of this precursor can be seen in several ancestral sequence characteristics that point to its origin as a duplication of either a prodynorphin- or proenkephalin-like gene. The sturgeon proorphanin cDNA ...