No abstract

Besides being an indispensable amino acid for protein synthesis, arginine (Arg) is also involved in a number of other physiological functions. Available data on the quantitative requirement for Arg in different teleosts appear to show much variability. So far, there are very limited data on the maintenance requirements of indispensable amino acids (IAA) in fish. In the present study, we compared N and Arg requirements for maintenance and growth of four finfish species: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ), turbot (Psetta maxima ), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata ) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax ). Groups of fish having an initial body weight close to 5 -7 g were fed semi-purified diets containing graded levels of N (0 to 8 % DM) and Arg (0 to 3 % DM) over 4 to 6 weeks. For each species, N and Arg requirements for maintenance and for growth were calculated regressing daily N gain against daily N or Arg intakes. N requirement for maintenance was estimated to be 37·8, 127·3, 84·7 and 45·1 mg/kg metabolic body weight per d and 2·3, 2·2, 2·6 and 2·5 g for 1 g N accretion, in rainbow trout, turbot, gilthead seabream and European seabass respectively. The four species studied appear to have very low or no dietary Arg requirements for maintenance. Arg requirement for g N accretion was calculated to be 0·86 g in rainbow trout and between 1·04-1·11 g in the three marine species. Turbot required more N for maintenance than the other three species, possibly explaining its reputedly high overall dietary protein requirement. Data suggest a small but sufficient endogenous Arg synthesis to maintain whole body N balance and differences between freshwater and marine species as regards Arg requirement. It is worth verifying this tendency with other IAA.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the link between intellectual capital components and financial performance across three temporal periods on either side of a financial crisis. The study offers a longitudinal approach, combining two data collecting methods. A survey on intellectual capital components was administered during the initial period followed by objective performance ratios in subsequent time periods (covering pre, during and post-financial crisis analysis). Regarding the three periods in the study, evidence seems to support the argument that intellectual capital scores are good predictors of future banking performance. One bank in particular that was ranked very low in 2005 intellectual capital scores eventually failed to survive autonomously. By 2012, it was forced to be rescued by governmental aid using public funds. Generally speaking, we can argue that intellectual capital average scores are good predictors of future banking performance. The study's generalizability is limited to the Portuguese banking industry. This is the first academic research study to evaluate the link between intellectual capital and the financial performance of banks across three temporal periods:

No abstract