Objective: This study aims to develop the culture methods for Longfin Smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys in a laboratory setting, achieving the first production of a fully captive second generation (F2). The objective includes understanding the critical factors influencing the breeding and maturation of this species in captivity, contributing to conservation efforts and potential revival of this threatened species. Methods: Longfin Smelt broodstock were collected from the San Francisco Estuary and reared in controlled conditions at the University of California Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory (FCCL). The study involved spawning of wild broodstock, rearing of first generation (F1) progeny to adulthood, and subsequent spawning to produce F2 offspring. Key variables such as salinity, temperature, and diet were carefully managed throughout the process. Fertilization and hatching rates were calculated, and the larvae were reared using the same methods to closely monitor and understand their growth and development. Result: First generation Longfin Smelt successfully matured and spawned at age 1, earlier than commonly observed in the wild. From five crosses, four produced viable offspring. The study recorded a range of fertilization rates (10–40%) and high hatching rates (75–97%). Salinity was identified as a critical factor in both larval development and adult maturation. While initial larval survival was challenging, the larval rearing system used in this study proved effective. Conclusion: The study represents a major breakthrough in the cultivation of Longfin Smelt, showing that it is possible to complete their life cycle under controlled conditions. It has provided valuable understanding of the maturation and breeding processes in these fish, with an emphasis on the influence of salinity. These outcomes are crucial for conservation strategies, offering the potential to help establish a refuge population and laying the groundwork for further research aimed at refining captive breeding methods for this species.

The Pacific blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) is a premium product in the international seafood market. However, intensified farming has increased disease incidence and reduced genetic diversity. In this study, we developed a transcriptome database for L. stylirostris and mined microsatellite markers to analyze their genetic diversity. Using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform, we identified 53,263 unigenes from muscle, hepatopancreas, the intestine, and lymphoid tissues. Microsatellite analysis identified 36,415 markers from 18,657 unigenes, predominantly dinucleotide repeats. Functional annotation highlighted key disease resistance pathways and enriched categories. The screening and PCR testing of 42 transcriptome-based and 58 literature-based markers identified 40 with successful amplification. The genotyping of 200 broodstock samples revealed that Na, H_o, H_e, PIC, and F_IS values were 3, 0.54 ± 0.05, 0.43 ± 0.09, 0.41 ± 0.22, and 0.17 ± 0.27, respectively, indicating moderate genetic variability and significant inbreeding. Four universal microsatellite markers (CL1472.Contig13, CL517.Contig2, Unigene5692, and Unigene7147) were identified for precise diversity analysis in Pacific blue, Pacific white (Litopenaeus vannamei), and black tiger shrimps (Penaeus monodon). The transcriptome database supports the development of markers and functional gene analysis for selective breeding programs. Our findings underscore the need for an appropriate genetic management system to mitigate inbreeding depression, reduce disease susceptibility, and preserve genetic diversity in farmed shrimp populations.

Script writing for a movie or theater play is a difficult task that requires substantial literature expertise and creativity of human drama writers. We are interested in developing AI techniques and tools that can facilitate the literature creative process. To convert a Chinese fairy story into a script, we have to extract characters, locations, time, objects, as well as dialogues in order to decide the proper scenes in which actors and conductors can follow to conduct the actions and dialogues in the story. We reported preliminary results on this study using natural language processing techniques and commonsense knowledge. The work also poses challenging problems for various future research directions.