Crossover from Weak to Strong Nonlinear Disorder in the Viscoelasticity of Glucose Incubated Erythrocytes

Biomechanics is a wide interdisciplinary field, which includes all mechanical aspects from living organisms. As traditional erythrocytes viscoelastic analysis is mostly qualitative, the development of new quantitative methods capable of analyzing at the same time biological and mechanical aspects of the cells in flow, when changing from healthy controls to glucose incubated at different concentrations, is crucial for restricting the subjectivity in the study of the cell behaviour. On the other hand, it is important to appreciate the role of mathematics in the analysis of tissues and cells. Recent developed non linear mathematical methods are particularly fruitful when they are strongly correlated with cells sensitivity to initial conditions. An optic system called Erythrodeformeter has been developed and constructed in our laboratory, in order to evaluate the erythrocytes viscoelastic properties. To analyze the erythrocytes viscoelastic dynamics we used the technique of Time Delay Coordinates suggested by Takens, False Nearest Neighbours proposed by Abarbanel and co-workers, and the forecasting procedure proposed by Sugihara and May, the so called Correlation Coefficient. The results suggest that through this random walk analysis, apparent noise associated with deterministic chaos can be used not only to distinguish but also to characterize at the same time biological and mechanical aspects of the cells in flow, when changing from healthy controls to glucose incubated at different concentrations.

Fluctuating Role of Parameters in the Analysis of the Continues and Discrete Version of a Susceptible-Incubated-Infected Model

The article concentrates on the role of fluctuating parameters for removable population from the incubated class in a susceptible-incubated-infected model. The discrete analogous of this model is also investigated. Conditions for local asymptotic stability are derived for both the disease free and endemic cases. Numerical simulations are performed to validate the theoretical results.

Evaluation of Available Phosphorus by Soil Test Methods in an Acidic Soil Incubated with Different Levels of Lime and Phosphorus

An incubation study was conducted in laboratory to determine the effect of lime (L) as CaCO3 and phosphorus (P) as TSP on soil pH and available soil P in an acid soil. Four rates of L equivalent to 0, 1, 2 and 3 ton CaCO3 ha-1 and four rates of P equivalent to 0, 25, 50 and 75 mg P kg-1 were applied in combinations as treatments. The soil was incubated at field capacity for 8 weeks (wk) after which they were extracted using NaHCO3 (Olsen), Mehlich-3, Kelowna and Bray & Kurtz-1 extractants and soil pH was determined. Lime significantly (P < 0.001) increased soil pH. Phosphorus decreased it, though not significantly. Both L and P had significant effects (P < 0.001) on P availability irrespective of extractants used. Two ton CaCO3 plus 75 mg P kg-1 gave the highest available phosphorus. Mehlich-3 method extracted the largest amount of P (14.54 - 67.35 mg·kg-1) while Olsen extracted the smallest amount (3.25 - 32.77 mg·kg-1). The mean extractable P in soils was found to be in the order of Olsen 2 = 0.87 to 0.95).

Effect of Acetylene Concentration on Denitriflcation and Related Microbial Processes in Anaerobically incubated Soil Slnrries

In order to study the influence of difference in C2H2 concentration on the production of CO2, N2O,NH4-N and volatile fatty acids （VFA）, soil slurries with a gradient in C2H2 concentration were anaerobicallyincubated at 25°C for 2 weeks. Acetate, butyrate and CO2 production and NH4-N accumulation wereinhibited in the slurries in the presence of C2H2; and the inhibition effect increased with increasing C2H2from 0 to 20 kpa in the headspace gas of the incubation bottle. However, N2O, isobutyrate and propionateproduction was not obviously different among the slurries amended with C2H2 from 2.5 to 20 kpa. Therefore,the results implied that the C2H2 did not promote the inhibition but only increased the side effect onother microbial processes. The C2H2 of 2.5 kpa was suggested to be the optimum choice for the presentdenitrification study.

An early scoring system to predict mechanical ventilation for botulism: a single-center-based study

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients requiring ventilator support will be beneficial for the outcomes of botulism. The present study aimed to establish a new scoring system to predict mechanical ventilation(MV) for botulism patients.METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted to identify risk factors associated with MV in botulism patients from 2007 to 2022. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen out risk factors for constructing a prognostic scoring system. The area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was calculated.RESULTS: A total of 153 patients with botulism(66 males and 87 females, with an average age of 43 years) were included. Of these, 49 patients(32.0%) required MV, including 21(13.7%) with invasive ventilation and 28(18.3%) with non-invasive ventilation. Multivariate analysis revealed that botulinum toxin type, pneumonia, incubation period, degree of hypoxia, and severity of muscle involvement were independent risk factors for MV. These risk factors were incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a prognostic scoring system. Each risk factor was scored by allocating a weight based on its regression coefficient and rounded to whole numbers for practical utilization([botulinum toxin type A: 1], [pneumonia: 2], [incubation period ≤1 day: 2], [hypoxia <90%: 2], [severity of muscle involvement: grade Ⅱ, 3;gradeⅢ, 7;grade IV, 11]). The scoring system achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.82(95% CI 0.75–0.89, P<0.001). At the optimal threshold of 9, the scoring system achieved a sensitivity of 83.7% and a specificity of 70.2%.CONCLUSION: Our study identified botulinum toxin type, pneumonia, incubation period, degree of hypoxia, and severity of muscle involvement as independent risk factors for MV in botulism patients. A score ≥9 in our scoring system is associated with a higher likelihood of requiring MV in botulism patients. This scoring system needs to be validated externally before it can be applied in clinical settings.

Hatching and development of maize cyst nematode Heterodera zeae infecting different plant hosts

The occurrence, distribution, and rapid molecular detection technology of Heterodera zeae Koshy et al. 1971, have been reported in China. We explored the biological characteristics of H. zeae sampled in Henan Province, China to understand its interaction with plants. Cysts and second-stage juveniles(J2s) were identified under an optical and scanning electron microscope, internal transcribed spacer(ITS) phylogenetic tree, and sequence characterized amplified region(SCAR)-PCR analyses. The optimum hatching temperatures of H. zeae were 30°C and 28°C, with cumulative hatching rates of 16.5 and 16.1%, respectively, at 30 days post-hatching(dph). The hatching rate of H. zeae eggs was improved by 20-and 50-time maize soil leachate and root juice, and 10-time root exudates. The hatching rate in 10-time root exudates was the highest(25.9%). The 10-time root exudates of maize and millet produced the highest hatching rate at 30 dph(25.9 and 22.9%, respectively), followed by wheat(19.9%), barley(18.3%), and rice(17.6%). Heterodera zeae developed faster in maize than in other crops. Fourth-stage juveniles(J4s) were detected in maize roots 8 days post-inoculation(dpi) at 28°C but not in other crops. Combined with hatching tests, the Huang–Huai–Hai summer maize region and the south and central-southwest mountainous maize areas are highly suitable for H. zeae in China. This is the first systematically study of the hatching and infection characteristics on different plant hosts of corn cyst nematode H. zeae in temperate regions. This study laid a theoretical foundation for the rapid spread and high environmental adaptability of corn cyst nematode.

Incubation temperature induced developmental plasticity of cold responsive physiological phenotypes in Japanese Quails

Embryonic development is a critical period for phenotype formation.Environmental variation during embryonic development can induce changes in postnatal phenotypes of animals.The thyroxine secretion and aerobic metabolic activity of small birds are important phenotypes closely related to their winter survival.In the context of climate change,it is necessary to determine whether temperature variation during incubation in birds leads to developmental plasticity of these cold responsive phenotypes.We incubated Japanese Quail(Coturnix japonica)eggs at 36.8℃,37.8℃,and 38.8℃,and raised the chicks to 35-day old at 22℃with same raising conditions,then all the quails were exposed to gradually temperature dropping environment(from 15℃to 0℃).After cold treatment,serum T3 level,resting metabolic rate,skeletal muscle and liver metabolomes of the birds were measured.The serum T3 levels were significantly lower in the 38.8℃group and significantly higher in the 36.8℃group compared to the 37.8℃group.The metabolic rate in the 38.8℃group was significantly lower compared to the 37.8℃group.Compared with the 37.8℃group,metabolites involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the liver were significantly lower in the 38.8℃group,and metabolites related to lipid oxidation metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis were significantly lower in the skeletal muscles in the 38.8℃group but significantly higher in the 36.8℃group.These results indicate that incubation temperature variation can lead to developmental plasticity in cold responsive physiological phenotypes.Higher incubation temperature may impair the capacity of birds coping with cold challenge.

The clutch size,incubation behavior of Reeves’s Pheasant(Syrmaticus reevesii) and their responses to ambient temperature and precipitation

Weather conditions play a pivotal role in embryo development and parental incubation costs,potentially impacting the clutch size and incubation behavior of birds.Understanding these effects is crucial for bird conservation.Reeves’ s Pheasant(Syrmaticus reevesii) is a threatened species endemic to China,which is characterized by female-only incubation.However,there is a lack of information regarding the impact of weather conditions on clutch size and incubation behavior in this species.Using satellite tracking,we tracked 27 wild female Reeves’ s Pheasants from 2020 to 2023 in Hubei Province,China.We explored their clutch size and incubation behavior,as well as their responses to ambient temperature and precipitation.Clutch size averaged 7.75 ±1.36,had an association with average ambient temperature and average daily precipitation during the egglaying period,and was potentially linked to female breeding attempts.Throughout the incubation period,females took an average of 0.73 ±0.46 recesses every 24 h,with an average recess duration of 100.80 ±73.37 min and an average nest attendance of 92.98 ±5.27%.They showed a unimodal recess pattern in which nest departures peaked primarily between 13:00 and 16:00.Furthermore,females rarely left nests when daily precipitation was high.Recess duration and nest attendance were influenced by the interaction between daily mean ambient temperature and daily precipitation,as well as day of incubation.Additionally,there was a positive correlation between clutch size and recess duration.These results contribute valuable insights into the lifehistory features of this endangered species.

Clinical validation of the early embryo viability assessment system: Analysis for the blastocyst morphology and pregnancy outcomes

Objective:To determine the relationship between the early embryo viability assessment(EEVA)and blastocyst morphological parameters and pregnancy outcomes.Methods:This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 291 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles including 2522 embryos with indications of prolonging embryo culture to the blastocyst stage in the Genea embryo review incubator,and 511 single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles from January 2020 to June 2023.The EEVA system produced an EEVA score from E1(best)to E5(worse)for the potential of blastocyst formation.Blastocyst morphology was evaluated.The association between the EEVA score and each type of blastocyst morphology,implantation rate,clinical pregnancy,and ongoing pregnancy were assessed using generalized estimating equations.Results:The inner cell mass A(ICM A),trophectoderm A(TE A),blastocoele expansion degree of 3,4,5,6,7 rates were higher with lower the EEVA score.The adjusted odd ratio(aOR)(E5 vs E1)was 0.3 for ICM A,0.174 for TE A and 0.210 for BL3,4,5,6,7(all P<0.001),suggesting a significant association between lower EEVA scores and improved embryo quality.The implantation,clinical pregnancy,and ongoing pregnancy rate were also higher with lower the EEVA score.The aOR of E5 vs E1 was 0.245 for implantation,0.185 for clinical pregnancy and 0.200 for ongoing pregnancy rate(P<0.001).Conclusions:There were associations between blastocyst morphology,pregnancy outcome and EEVA scores.The good blastocyst morphology and pregnancy outcomes are higher with lower the EEVA score.

Evaluation of the Reproduction Parameters of “Lohmann Brown” Strain Chickens Fed with Cajanus cajan Leaf Meal in the Republic of Congo

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive parameters of “Lohmann Brown” strain chickens fed on Cajanus cajan leaves and to assess the viability of the chicks after hatching. 40 hens of the “Lohmann Brown” strain fed on Cajanus cajan leaf flour laid 219 eggs divided into four batches depending on the rate of incorporation of Cajanus cajan leaf flour in the rations (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) were trained and introduced into the incubator. Results: the incubator indicates a hatching temperature of 38˚C to 37.2˚C and relative humidity of 60% to 70%. Hatching performance shows that: The 15% batch recorded the highest fertility rate 86.95% compared to 26.88% of the control batch. The CC 15% batch recorded the highest hatching rate 36.87. The lowest rate (17.18%) was recorded in the control batch (CC 0%). The highest embryonic mortality rate was recorded in the CC 15% batch. The lowest rate in the CC 10% batch. Concerning unfertilized eggs, the highest rate is 72.20% (CC 0%), and the lowest are (12.03%;57.42% and 66.66%) recorded in CC batches. 15%, CC 5% and CC 10% respectively. For the shell mortality rate, the highest is 18.58% recorded in the CC 15% batch. The lowest shell mortality rate is 2.07%, obtained in the control batch (CC 0%);the dust mortality rate was 0% for all chicks. The study seems to indicate that the incorporation of Cajanus cajan leaf meal up to 15% into the reproduction type ration in hens does not cause any harmful effects on the reproduction performance of laying hens.

Experimental Study of a Solar Thermal Incubator Using a Phase-Change Material for Off-Grid Use

The aim of this study was to provide a simple, easy-to-use incubation system for small-scale rural poultry farmers far from the electricity grid. To this end, a naturally ventilated solar thermal incubator was built and experimentally tested. A U-shaped evacuated tube collector and a wooden crate holding 50 eggs were used to build the solar thermal incubator. Water was used as the heat transfer fluid, and an EPCM was integrated into the incubation chamber for operation at night or when the sun was hidden. The heat generated by the solar collector and stored in the heat transfer fluid is transported to the incubation chamber by thermosiphon to heat the chamber. Temperature and humidity probes powered by a solar panel were placed at various locations to monitor the thermo-hygrometric efficiency of the incubation system. The incubator, heated by natural convection, proved to function normally, and the incubation chamber was maintained throughout the incubation period within a temperature range of 35.53˚C to 39.53˚C and relative humidity averaging 49.4% to 68.5%. The experiment was carried out by introducing 30 eggs and the results of the experimental study showed that the incubator’s efficiency was 87%. The performance tests gave a fertility rate of 93% and a hatching rate of 93%, i.e. 28 fertile eggs and 26 hatched eggs, respectively.

Robot系统测定旱地N_(2)排放的方法优化及其与其他方法的对比研究

反硝化是生态系统氮循环的最后一环同时也是活性氮转化为惰性氮(N2)的最主要过程。由于空气中背景N2浓度高达78%,在如此高的背景浓度N2环境中直接和准确测定反硝化过程产生的微量N2,一直是个巨大的挑战。Robot系统(Robotized incubation and analyzing system)是基于无N2背景(氦环境)的用以研究纯菌或土壤体系N2排放速率的方法,该系统平台搭建简单且测定效率高,目前应用比较广泛。但该系统在运行过程中需要频繁利用微量注射器进行取样和测定,极易造成外界N2的渗漏。为解决这一问题,通过使用预先置于氦环境的橡胶隔垫、采用充氦后的蒸馏水配制溶液及实施破坏性取样的处理,对Robot系统测定旱地N2排放速率的方法进行优化,同时与乙炔抑制法和RoFlow系统(Robotized continuous flow incubation system)的测定结果进行对比。研究结果表明,通过方法优化,可以大幅降低Robot系统的N2渗漏率,方法优化后系统的渗漏率在0~0.78μL·L^(–1)·h^(–1)之间。优化后的Robot系统对碳源和氮源添加后N2排放速率差异的响应较好,并且对旱地土壤N2排放速率的测定误差最小(0.003~0.045 mg·kg^(–1)·d^(–1)),显著优于乙炔抑制法(0.34~3.29 mg·kg^(–1)·d^(–1))和RoFlow系统(0.41~1.02 mg·kg^(–1)·d^(–1))。综上,优化后的Robot系统在测定旱地N2排放速率时具有N2渗漏率低,对外源底物添加响应好及测定结果精确度高的特点,未来在研究旱地土壤背景N2排放及相关机理方面有较好的应用前景。

More than a simple egg:Underlying mechanisms of cold tolerance in avian embryos

Avian embryos,which develop within eggs,exhibit remarkable tolerance to extremely low temperatures.Despite being a common trait among all birds,the mechanisms underlying this cold tolerance in avian embryos remain largely unknown.To gain a better understanding of this phenomenon and the coping mechanisms involved,we reviewed the literature on severe cold tolerance in embryos of both wild and domestic birds.We found that embryos of different bird orders exhibit tolerance to severe cold during their development.In response to cold stress,embryos slow down their heartbeat rates and metabolism.In severe cold temperatures,embryos can suspend these processes,entering a torpid-like state of cardiac arrest.To compensate for these developmental delays,embryos extend their regular incubation periods.Depending on their embryonic age,embryos of all bird species can tolerate acute severe cold regimes;only a few tolerate chronic severe cold regimes.We also discussed various extrinsic and intrinsic factors that affect the tolerance of bird embryos to low temperatures before and after incubation.Cold tolerance appears to be a heritable trait shared by wild and domestic embryos of all bird classes,regardless of egg size or development(altricial/precocial).Driven by environmental variability,cold tolerance in avian embryos is an optimal physiological and ecological strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of cold conditions on their development in response to fluctuating environmental temperatures.

Sexual Dimorphism,Female Reproductive Characteristics and Embryonic Thermosensitivity in the Tonkin Forest Skink(Sphenomorphus tonkinensis)from Hainan,South China

We collected 75 adult Tonkin forest skinks(Sphenomorphus tonkinensis) from Hainan, South China and incubated eggs at four constant temperatures ranging from 22 ℃ to 28 ℃ to study sexual dimorphism, female reproductive characteristics and embryonic thermosensitivity. The largest male was 53.4 mm snout-vent length(SVL), and the largest female was 54.3 mm SVL. The mean SVL was slightly greater in adult females(49.9 mm) than in adult males(48.8 mm), but the difference was not significant.Head length, head width, fore-limb length and hindlimb length were longer in adult males and abdomen length was longer in adult females after accounting for SVL. Accordingly, we conclude that S. tonkinensis is basically a sexually size-monomorphic species with sexual dimorphism in head size, abdomen(trunk)length and limb size. Females laid up to two clutches of 1–4 eggs each per egg-laying season from February to May. Egg mass, clutch size and clutch mass were independent of female SVL. Embryonic stages at laying varied from Dufaure and Hubert’s stage 30 to 31. With female SVL held constant, the negative correlation between egg mass and clutch size was not significant, suggesting that the offspring(egg) sizenumber trade-off between is not evident or eggs are well optimized for size in S. tonkinensis. None of the eggs at 28 ℃ hatched;hatching success was lower at 22 ℃ than at 24 ℃ or 26 ℃. The mean incubation length was 52.9 d at 22 ℃, 40.4 d at 24 ℃ and 33.6 d at 26 ℃. Hatchlings from eggs incubated at 22 ℃,24 ℃ and 26 ℃ did not differ morphologically at hatching, suggesting that temperatures within this range do not differentially affect hatchling morphology in S. tonkinensis.

The amelioration of degraded larch(Larix olgensis)soil depends on the proportion of Aralia elata litter in larch-A.elata agroforestry systems

Research has indicated that introducing Aralia elata into larch plantations forms an agroforestry system which could provide economic benefi ts for local farmers and improve degraded soils.However,the impact of litter mixtures on soil chemical and microbial properties in this agroforestry system are unclear,which limits effi cient management of the agroforestry system.A 365-d incubation experiment examined the eff ect of litter mixtures of diff erent proportions of larch(L)and A.elata(A)on soil chemical and microbial properties.The results show that levels of mineral N,available P,microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen,cumulative C mineralization,and activities of hydrolases and oxidases increased with an increase of A.elata in the litter mixtures.Concentration of total soil carbon,nitrogen,and phosphorous did not change(except for total nitrogen).Compared with larch litter alone,levels of mineral N,available P,microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen,cumulative C mineralization,and the activities of hydrolases and oxidases increased by 7.6–433.5%.Most chemical and microbial properties were positively correlated with mixed litter proportions and the initial levels of N,P,K,Ca,Mg,Mn,Zn and Cu in the litter,while negatively correlated with the initial concentrations of C,Fe and lignin,C/N and lignin/N ratios.The results indicate that A.elata litter can improve degraded larch soil and the degree depends on the proportion of A.elata litter in the litter mixtures.

COVID TCL:A Joint Metric Loss Function for Diagnosing COVID-19 Patient in the Early and Incubation Period

Convolution Neural Networks(CNN)can quickly diagnose COVID-19 patients by analyzing computed tomography(CT)images of the lung,thereby effectively preventing the spread of COVID-19.However,the existing CNN-based COVID-19 diagnosis models do consider the problem that the lung images of COVID-19 patients in the early stage and incubation period are extremely similar to those of the non-COVID-19 population.Which reduces the model’s classification sensitivity,resulting in a higher probability of the model misdiagnosing COVID-19 patients as non-COVID-19 people.To solve the problem,this paper first attempts to apply triplet loss and center loss to the field of COVID-19 image classification,combining softmax loss to design a jointly supervised metric loss function COVID Triplet-Center Loss(COVID-TCL).Triplet loss can increase inter-class discreteness,and center loss can improve intra-class compactness.Therefore,COVID-TCL can help the CNN-based model to extract more discriminative features and strengthen the diagnostic capacity of COVID-19 patients in the early stage and incubation period.Meanwhile,we use the extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)as a classifier to design a COVID-19 images classification model of CNN-XGBoost architecture,to further improve the CNN-based model’s classification effect and operation efficiency.The experiment shows that the classification accuracy of the model proposed in this paper is 97.41%,and the sensitivity is 97.61%,which is higher than the other 7 reference models.The COVID-TCL can effectively improve the classification sensitivity of the CNN-based model,the CNN-XGBoost architecture can further improve the CNN-based model’s classification effect.

An Innovative Design of Incubator Structure for Cell Culture

In view of the problems of the traditional cell incubator,such as the small range of cell culture types,the inability to adjust the internal space of the incubator according to needs,and the inconvenient sampling,this study innovatively designed a cell incubator structure.It proposed a new design concept that can solve the above-mentioned shortcomings.The cell incubator after the new structural modification can adjust the internal space structure of cell culture by setting the bolt-fixed connection between the fixed plate and the vessel divider.It realizes the cultivation of various cells through refrigeration modules and heating modules.Through setting a sampling hole in the glass inner door,it is favorable for operators to take samples,making cell culture more convenient and efficient.

Soil Chemical Property Changes over Time from Struvite Compared to Other Fertilizer-Phosphorus Sources in Multiple Soils

Studies have shown that phosphorus (P) recovered from wastewater as the mineral struvite [MgNH4PO4·6(H2O)] may be a viable alternative fertilizer-P source. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of electrochemically precipitated struvite (ECST), reclaimed from synthetic wastewater, to other commercial fertilizer-P sources in cultivated soils from Arkansas [AR;silt loam (SiL) and loam (L)], Missouri (MO;SiL), and Nebraska [NE;SiL and sandy loam (SL)]. A plant-less, moist-soil incubation experiment, including ECST, chemically precipitated struvite (CPST), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), triple superphosphate (TSP), and an unamended control (UC), was conducted to quantify soil pH, nitrate (NO3-N), ammonium (NH4-N), and Mehlich-3 (M3)-P, -Ca, -Mg, and -Fe concentrations at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 months. All measured soil properties differed (P ·kg-1 for AR-L-TSP after 1 month and NE-SiL-MAP after 6 months, respectively. Soil M3-P ranged from -29.6 mg·kg-1 in the AR-L-UC after 1 month to 429 mg·kg-1 AR-SiL-TSP after 0.5 months. Results showed that, over time, ECST had comparable pH and soil NO3-N, NH4-N, and M3-P, -Ca, -Mg, and -Fe behavior compared to CPST, MAP, and TSP across various soil textures.

Visible Light and Its Influence on the Embryonic Viability of the Cricket Acheta domesticus

During in vitro fertilization, human embryos are incubated without light, and these conditions do not ensure embryo survival. This study explored whether environmental conditions can influence the embryo viability rates of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. In particular, the experiment tested what colors of visible light provide the best incubation conditions to ensure cricket embryo viability. The concept was to use house cricket embryos to represent human embryos. Cricket embryos were chosen as their eggs have soft outer membrane casings and resemble human embryos during the first few days after fertilization. During the experiment, the adult crickets laid their eggs into one of six soil-filled boxes called substrates. Each substrate was placed into one of six storage containers filled with adult crickets and lit with a different colored visible light (red, yellow, green, blue, white, or no light). After two days of breeding, the egg-filled substrates were removed from the adult crickets and placed in another storage container of the same color light. After incubation under heat-emitting lamps and under one of six light colors, nymphs were counted after hatching to determine embryo viability. After three trials, the red light provided the significantly highest viability rate, with yellow and no light being comparable seconds. The green, blue, and white lights showed significantly lower viability rates than no visible light. My results raise the speculation that exposing fertilized mammal eggs to visible light colors might have the same effects during the in vitro fertilization process.

Artificial incubation and growth observation for the nestlings of Great Bustard (Otis tarda)

Growth indicators including weight, body length, wings length, tail length, tarsus, gape, the third toe and head width of 21 nestlings of Great Bustard (Otis tarda) were measured and investigated in Harbin Zoo, Harbin, China during 1999-2002, and methods on successfully fostering nestlings of the bird were also summarized in this article. The results showed: the Great Bustard is a kind of premature bird and its birth weight was 86.31?.56g (N=21); environmental temperature for the neonatal nestlings should be controlled at 36C; the feeding principle having many meals but little food at each for the nestlings should be followed; since six weeks after birth, nestlings of both gender began to show significant difference in body weight, the weight of male was 1.8 times of that of the female after fourteenth week, and by weight and body figure sexual identity could be easily discerned when 3 or 4 months old; There is no significant difference in growth and development of all organs between male and female nestlings and organ growth curves were fit into Logistic equation.