The present paper deals with a detailed description of the auditory ossicles in Capra hircus. The paper focuses on the morphological and morphometrical description of the ossicular assembly, formed by malleus, incus and stapes. The malleus (overall length, as average‐ 8.16 mm) comprises the head of malleus (Caput mallei), a slightly strictured part—neck (Collum mallei) with 3 distinctive processes (lateral, rostral and muscular) (Processus lateralis, Processus rostralis and Processus muscularis) and a handle (Manubrium mallei). The head of malleus has an oval aspect with an obtuse articular surface on its medial surface (Facies articularis). The neck is evident with three bony processes described—the anterior, almost triangular, the muscular one quite reduced and the lateral one which is the most developed one. The manubrium is the longest sector—4.4 mm and appears as a slightly curved piece. The incus presents a body of 1.3 mm and two processes—the short and long crus (Crus breve and Crus longum). The overall shape of the ossicle resembles a biradicular molar. The lenticular process is a continuation of the distal part of the long crus. The stapes—the smallest in size of the three ossicles (2.7 mm), has a head (Caput stapedis), an anterior (Crus rostrale) and a caudal (Crus caudale) arm and a footplate (Basis stapedis). The two processes are slightly different in size and morphology, delimiting the intercrural space that shows the presence of a bony spicule. The footplate (1.6 mm2 area) is ellipsoidal, with an anterior narrower extremity.

Danube salmon Hucho hucho (L.), known as one of the world's largest salmonids, is among the most endangered fish species inhabiting the Danube basin of Central Europe. It is classified as endangered (EN) by the IUCN due to its very low abundance and continual decline. Historically, the natural distribution range of the Danube salmon included drainages in Austria,

Currently, insects are considered as a potential substitute for fishmeal and soybean meal in feeding mixtures for farm animals. However, detailed information regarding insects' nutritional values is available only for some species. We suggested criteria for insect suitability to mass production and found 15 species from 5 orders which meet our requirements: Blattaria: Blaptica dubia, Blatta lateralis, Eublaberus distanti, Coleoptera: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio, Diptera: Hermetia illucens, Musca domestica, Lepidoptera: Antheraea assamensis, Bombyx mori, Galleria mellonela, Samia riciini, Orthoptera: Acheta domestica, Locusta migratoria, Zonocerus variegates. We have collected available information about their nutritional composition and compared it to soybean meal and fishmeal. Protein content was found to be similar to (or slightly higher than in) soybean and fish meals. In terms of protein quality, it was found that insect protein composition is more similar to soybean protein or fishmeal with low protein concentration, than to that of high concentration fishmeal or casein. Due to highest lysine and metionin contents, we recommend Musca domestica and Samia riciini as most suitable protein sources for poultry and pigs feeding.

Blood biochemistry parameters are valuable tools for monitoring fish health. Their baseline values are still undefined for a multitude of farmed fish species. In this study, changes in the blood profile of rainbow trout females (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from three farms were investigated using different biomarkers during the summer season. In the given context, the main water physicochemical parameters were investigated and twelve biochemical parameters were measured from blood samples of rainbow trout reared in the Fiad, Șoimul de Jos, and Strâmba farms. We selected these farms because the genetic background of the rainbow trout is the same, with all studied specimens coming from the Fiad farm, which has an incubation station. Forty-five samples were collected monthly (May to August) throughout summer to observe the changes in the blood profile of rainbow trout. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation both among the studied farms and months. Furthermore, significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the majority of the biochemical parameters were found, indicating that the environmental parameters can influence several blood parameters at the same time. The present study provides several useful norms for assessing the welfare of rainbow trout, indicating that the relationships among different parameters are important factors in interpreting the blood biochemical profiles.

The Raman spectra of polycrystalline anhydrous orotic acid have been also recorded and compared to the SERS data. These form are found to chemisorb on Ag colloidal nanoparticles exhibiting different SERS spectral pattern. SERS of orotic acid analysis suggested a titled geometry orientation with respect to the surface. Different adsorption behavior of these molecular species is discussed in the present study based on the Raman and SERS vibrational analysis of the related species.