Observations on breeding behavior of the White-eared Night Heron(Gorsachius magnificus) in northern Guangdong, China

The White-eared Night Heron (Gorsachius magnificus) is a Class II protected species in China. It is difficult to observe in the field and its population is small. The present study reports a new distribution site in Nanxiong County, in northern Guangdong Province, where observations of an active nest were made from 4 May to 14 July 2012, the first time consecutive observations have been made for a period of more than two months. The adults flew away from the nest at night, with a peak at 19:00-20:00 and returned in the mornings with a peak at 04:30-05:30. The peak time for feeding young was at 05:00-05:30, accounting for 26.5%of total feeding activities. No feeding occurred from 10:00 to 16:00. The results of our study of its behavior explain why the White-eared Night Heron is usually observed in the evening just before dark, or in the morning before sunrise, at least during the breeding season. There were about 67 days from hatching to fledging, longer than the fledging time of most heron species. This study is the first to cover the entire period of parental care and fills a gap in previous knowledge.

THE STUDY OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF Torrentophryne aspinia

Torrentophryne aspinia is a new kind of toads discovered in China recently, it lives in the forest floor in West Yunnan, the most important things for this kind of species is that they have a kind of torrent-adapted tadpoles which have abdominal suckers and can adhere to the surfaces of rocks in moving waters. In this article, we described the forming procedures of abdominal sucker and some breeding behaviors, habitats and habits. After comparing with those of other toads, it is confirmed that Torrentophryne should be a new valid genus, it is derived from ancestor toads because of adaptation to the torrent habitats, by the forming of torrent -adapted organ-abdominal sucker in the early development.

Neutronic investigation and activation calculation for CFETR HCCB blankets

The neutronic calculations and activation behavior of the proposed helium cooled ceramic breeder（HCCB） blanket were predicted for the Chinese Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor（CFETR） design model using the MCNP multi-particle transport code and its associated data library. The tritium self-sufficiency behavior of the HCCB blanket was assessed, addressing several important breeding-related arrangements inside the blankets. Two candidate first wall armor materials were considered to obtain a proper tritium breeding ratio（TBR）. Presentations of other neutronic characteristics, including neutron flux, neutron-induced damages in terms of the accumulated dpa and helium production were also conducted. Activation, decay heat levels and contact dose rates of the components were calculated to estimate the neutron-induced radioactivity and personnel safety. The results indicate that neutron radiation is efficiently attenuated and slowed down by components placed between the plasma and toroidal field coil.The dominant nuclides and corresponding isotopes in the structural steel were discussed. A radioactivity comparison between pure beryllium and beryllium with specific impurities was also performed. After a millennium cooling time, the decay heat of all the concerned components and materials is less than 1？×？10-4 k W, and most associated in-vessel components qualify for recycling by remote handling. The results demonstrate that acceptable hands-on recycling and operation still require a further long waiting period to allow the activated products to decay.

Female scent mobilizes leukocytes to airways in BALB/c male mice

The scent of receptive females as a signal to reproduction stimulates male mice to olfactory search of a potential breeding partner.This searching behavior is coupled with infection risk due to bacterial contamination of the fecal and urine scent marks.We hypothesized that sniffing of female soiled bedding induced the migration of immuno-competent cells into airways as a possible adaptation to breeding-related infection.Using bronchoalveolar lavage in a study on mice,we found the number of leukocytes to be significantly higher in male mice that were provided new portions of soiled bedding daily from female cages,in comparison with male mice that were kept in isolation from female scent.The number of leukocytes in blood was equal in both groups.However,monocytes were fewer in number in male mice exposed to female scent than in male mice isolated from female mice.Scent-induced migration of leukocytes was accompanied by typical behavioral(increased sniffing activity and aggressiveness)and morpho-logical(increase preputial glands and seminal vesicles)responses to olfactory sexual stimulus.