Effects of NPY Gene on Total Number of Eggs at 300 Days of Age in Donglan Black-bone Chicken

In this study, PCR-RFLP technique was employed to detect the genetic polymorphism of NPY gene and analyze the effects of various genotypes on the total number of eggs at 300 days of age in 135 Donglan black-bone chicken. According to the results, there were three genotypes （AA, AB and BB） of NPYgene in Donglan black-bone chicken group. Different genotypes exhibited significant effects （P 〈 0. 05 ） on the total number of eggs at 300 days of age. The total number of eggs at 300 days of age of AA genotype was significantly higher than that of BB genotype （P 〈 0. 05）. Therefore, the polymorphic site of NPY gene could be used as a candidate molecular marker that affects egg laying in Donglan black-bone chicken.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Guangxi Donglan Black-bone Chicken

[Objective] This study aimed to understand the genetic diversity and breed conservation effect, and to provide reference for future germplasm resources protection and breeding researches of Guangxi Donglan black-bone chicken. [Method] The wing venous blood of Donglan Black-bone chicken（silky feather and contour feather） was collected, and the total DNA was extracted. The 18 microsatellite loci were amplified by PCR technology, and the obtained gene fragments were scanned. The number of alleles（Na）, number of effective alleles（Ne）, heterozygosity（H） and polymorphism information content（PIC） were determined using Pop Gen 32 biological software to do cluster analysis of Guangxi indigenous chicken breeds. [Result] The18 microsatellite loci of Donglan black-bone chicken were found to be highly polymorphic. A total of 98 alleles were detected out from 80 Donglan black-bone chicken samples. The averages of Na, Ne, PIC and H per locus were 5.44, 2.78, 0.5382 and 0.596 3, respectively. A total of 93 and 98 alleles were detected out from silky- and contour-feather Donglan black-bone chickens, respectively. The averages of Ne per locus were 2.62 and 2.76, of PIC per locus were 0.508 8 and 0.539 8,of H per locus were 0.624 7 and 0.599 1, respectively. The results of cluster analysis showed that there was greater genetic distance between Donglan black-bone chicken and any of other Guangxi indigenous chicken breeds, including three yellow chicken, Xiayan chicken and Nandan Yao chicken, which was consistent with the breed evolution, geographical distribution and breeding history of Donglan black-bone chicken. [Conclusion] There are greater genetic variation and abundant genetic diversity in the conserved population of Donglan black-bone chicken, suggesting abundant genetic diversity and great breeding potential of Donglan black-bone chicken.

Seasonal increase in nest defense,but not egg rejection,in a cuckoo host

The interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts provide an informative and easy-to-handle system for studying coevolution.Avian brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts,and thus,hosts have evolved anti-parasitic strategies,such as rejecting parasitic eggs and adopting aggressive nest defense strategies,to avoid the cost brought on by brood parasitism.To test whether host anti-parasitic strategies are adjusted with the risk of being parasitized when the breeding seasons of brood parasites and hosts are not synchronous,we conducted a field experiment assessing nest defense and egg recognition behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike(Lanius isabellinus),a host of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).In the local area,the host Isabelline Shrike begins to breed in April,whereas the summer migratory Common Cuckoo migrates to the local area in May and begins to lay parasitic eggs.Results showed that nest defense behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike increases significantly after cuckoo arrival,showing higher aggressiveness to cuckoo dummies,with no significant difference in attack rates among cuckoo,sparrowhawk and dove dummies,but their egg rejection did not change significantly.These results imply that Isabelline Shrikes may adjust their nest defense behavior,but not egg rejection behavior,with seasonality.

Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine Feed Additives on Growth Performance and Dietary Nutrient Metabolism of Black-bone Chickens

[Objectives]To study the effects of Chinese herbal medicine feed additives on the growth performance and dietary nutrient metabolic rate of black-one chickens.[Methods]480 pieces of 1-day-old Donglan Black-bone Chickens were selected and divided into 4 groups,with 6 replicates in each group,with 20 pieces in each replicate.Among them,group A was the control group and was fed the basal diet;the groups B,C,and D were the experimental groups,which were separately supplemented with 0.25%,0.50%and 1.00%of Chinese herbal medicine additives in the basal diet,and the experimental period was 70 d.At the end of the feeding experiment,24 experimental chickens with similar body weight were selected from each group,and the same design of the feeding experiment was used to continue to feed the original diet for the metabolic experiment to determine the nutrient metabolic rate.[Results]Except the 50-70 d stage,the average daily gain(ADG)of group B in other stages was increased by 5.00%-9.15%(P<0.05),and the average body weight of group B at 70 d was also increased by 4.86%(P<0.05);the ADG of group C at 36-49,1-49 and 1-70 d and the average individual weight at 70 d were also higher than that of group A by 5.90%,2.66%,2.68%and 2.57%,respectively(P>0.05);at 36-49 d,the average daily feed intake(ADFI)of group A was higher than that of group B by 6.04%(P<0.01),and was also higher than that of groups C and D by 5.12%and 4.13%(P<0.05),respectively;at 1-49 d,the ADFI of group A was higher than that of group C by 2.86%(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the four groups of experimental chickens at each stage(P>0.05);at 22-35 and 1-70 d,the feed to gain ratio(F/G)of group B was 6.32%and 3.41%lower than that of group A(P<0.05),and at 36-49 and 1-49 d,the F/G of group B was even lower;at 36-49 d,the F/G of group C was 10.15%lower than that of group A(P<0.05),and at 1-49 d,it was also lower than that of group A by 5.29%(P<0.01);there was no significant difference between the two groups at other stages.In terms of nutrient metabolism:the three different amounts of this additive have increased the metabolic rate of DM,CP,CF,NFE,CA,Ca,P,TE and other nutrients in the diet to varying degrees,especially the addition of 0.25%and 0.50%had the significant increase.[Conclusions]The addition of 0.25%Chinese herbal medicine additives in the diet can significantly improve the growth performance and main nutrient metabolic rate of Donglan Black-bone Chickens.

Yolk free egg substitute improves the serum phospholipid profile of mice with metabolic syndrome based on lipidomic analysis

In this study,the impacts of egg consumption on mice model of metabolic syndrome(Met S)were comparatively investigated.Mice were divided into five groups(n=8):normal diet group(ND),high-fat diet group(HFD),HFD with whole egg group(WE),HFD with free-yolk egg substitute group(YFES),and HFD with lovastatin group(Lov).Main biochemical indexes and a non-targeted lipidomic analysis were employed to insight the lipid profile changes in serum.It was revealed that WE could significantly improve serum biochemical indexes by reducing body weight,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and total cholesterol(TC),while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.YFES exhibited remarkably better performance in increasing phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acids,while decreasing phosphatidylinositol than WE.A total of 50 differential lipids biomarkers tightly related to glycerophospholipids metabolism were screened out.Carnitine C18:2 and C12:1,SM(d18:0/12:0),and SM(d18:1/14:1)were significantly upregulated in YFES compared to WE.YFES reduced expression of SREBP-1c and Cpt1a,while did not affect the expression of PPAR-α.Sphingomyelin biomarkers were positively related to the TC(|r|>0.6),while PPAR-αwas negatively correlated with triglyceride and LDL-C levels.To sum up,YFES attenuated HFD-induced Met S by improving the serum phospholipids,which account for its modulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism.

Prevalence of Enteric Pathogens Associated with Infections among Table Egg Consumers in Some Primary Health Establishments in the Center Region of Cameroon

Method: In Cameroon limited data are available regarding the prevalence of enteric bacteria associated with table egg consuming infections. As such, a situational-based study was performed in patients with complains of stomach disorders after egg consumption. Data related to sociodemographic characteristics and other factors were collected using a structured based questionnaire. Stool culture of utmost importance in stomach disorders patients and serum were collected for typhoid serological test. Results: A total of 207 participants took part in the survey, Results indicated nontyphoidal Salmonella infections were highest in the 3 areas of study with Mfoundi (73.44%) having the highest level of infection compared to other bacterial infection. other enteric bacteria associated to this infection were E. coli serotype 157, Aeromonas, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloaca and typhi salmonella. Meanwhile salmonelosis caused by typhic salmonella had highest prevalence in the Lekie Division (13.11%) as a result of poor hygienic practices associated with the conservation and preparation of eggs, Stool culture was observed to detect more positive cases in the diagnosis of typhoid fever than Widal test, but with no statistically significant (p > 0.05) difference between the stool culture and Widal test in the 3 areas of study. Conclusion: this study revealed that egg consumers are pruned to enteric bacterial and salmonella infections depending on how and where egg is consumed.

Increased CO2 Levels during the First Half of Incubation at High Altitude Modifies Embryonic Development of Fertile Leghorn Breeder Eggs

The exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) within an incubator has a significant impact on embryonic development (ED) and hatching processes. This study examines the influence of non-ventilation (NV) conditions during the first ten days of incubation at high altitudes on Leghorn hens hatching eggs. Five hundred four hatching eggs were equally divided into three treatment groups and placed in twelve incubators (R = 4). The first group was subjected to standard ventilated conditions (V) during the setting phase. The ventilation inlet holes of the remaining incubators in the NV treatments were closed with either micropore (M) or polypropylene (P) tape, referred to as NVM and NVP groups, respectively. These two different airtight settings were intended to allow for a gradual rise in CO2 naturally generated by the embryos. Results indicate that carbon dioxide concentration gradually increased during the first half of incubation, reaching 1.42% in the NVM group and 1.20% in the NVP group, while the V condition group remained at 0.15%. From 10 days of incubation onwards, normal V conditions were restored in all incubators. The highest hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE) was shown by the NVP group (55.7%), followed by the V (52.6%) and NVM (38.6%) groups. The NVP group showed a greater yolk-free body mass (YFBM) from 10 days of incubation until the hatch basket transfer. NV conditions during the first 10 days of incubation at high altitude produced higher YFBM with gradually decreasing yolk sac mass. In comparison to the NVM and V conditions, the particular NVP condition showed a beneficial impact on the quality of hatched chicks. Sustaining NVP condition (1.2% of CO2) throughout the first half of incubation at high altitude generated the optimal environment in the incubator ensuring the best hatchability results. This study highlights how important it is for hatchery managers to recognize the influence of low O2 and high levels of CO2 on the development trajectories of Leghorn embryos during early incubation at high altitudes.

Recognition and rejection of foreign eggs of different colors in Barn Swallows

Brood parasitic birds lay eggs in the nests of other birds,and the parasitized hosts can reduce the cost of raising unrelated offspring through the recognition of parasitic eggs.Hosts can adopt vision-based cognitive mechanisms to recognize foreign eggs by comparing the colors of foreign and host eggs.However,there is currently no uniform conclusion as to whether this comparison involves the single or multiple threshold decision rules.In this study,we tested both hypotheses by adding model eggs of different colors to the nests of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)of two geographical populations breeding in Hainan and Heilongjiang Provinces in China.Results showed that Barn Swallows rejected more white model eggs(moderate mimetic to their own eggs)and blue model eggs(highly non-mimetic eggs with shorter reflectance spectrum)than red model eggs(highly nonmimetic eggs with longer reflectance spectrum).There was no difference in the rejection rate of model eggs between the two populations of Barn Swallows,and clutch size was not a factor affecting egg recognition.Our results are consistent with the single rejection threshold model.This study provides strong experimental evidence that the color of model eggs can has an important effect on egg recognition in Barn Swallows,opening up new avenues to uncover the evolution of cuckoo egg mimicry and explore the cognitive mechanisms underlying the visual recognition of foreign eggs by hosts.

Effect of Six Bacterial Strains on the Activity of Second Instar Larvae and Egg Hatching of Meloidogyne incognita

[Objectives]The paper was to screen effective biocontrol strains against Meloidogyne incognita.[Methods]The effect of six bacterial strains sourced from the research group s strain library on the activity of second instar larvae of M.incognita,as well as on egg hatching,was evaluated.[Results]The treatment of fermentation supernatant derived from the X-2 strain exhibited a pronounced lethal effect on M.incognita,with a corrected mortality rate reaching 97%within 72 h.Additionally,this treatment significantly inhibited egg hatching,achieving an inhibition rate of 94.69%at a 20-fold dilution.The strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis,belonging to the genus Bacillus,and was designated as RKN1111.[Conclusions]This study presents alternative strains and a theoretical framework for the biological control of M.incognita.

A Simple Egg Membrane Patch Bridging Method for Repairing Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Objective:To analyze the clinical effect of a simple egg membrane patch bridging method in repairing tympanic membrane perforation.Methods:A total of 93 tympanic membrane perforation patients admitted to the hospital between September 2022 and October 2023 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method.The control group implemented the conventional treatment(n=46 cases),and the patch group adopted the simple egg membrane patch bridging method(n=47 cases).The healing rate of the tympanic membrane,the air-bone gap,the air conduction hearing threshold,the dry ear rate,and the incidence of complications in both groups were compared before and after treatment.Results:The healing rate of the tympanic membrane in the patch group was significantly higher than that of the control group(95.75%vs.76.09%),with P<0.05;there was no difference in the air-bone gap and air conduction hearing threshold levels between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05),and the hearing indexes of the patch group were significantly lower than those of the control group 3 months after treatment(P<0.05);the dry ear rate in the patch group was significantly higher than that of the control group after treatment(85.11%vs.67.39%),and the total incidence of complications was also significantly lower than that of the control group(6.38%vs.21.74%),with P<0.05.Conclusion:The simple egg membrane patch bridging method is effective in repairing tympanic membrane perforation,which can effectively improve patients’hearing levels and reduce the occurrence of post-treatment complications.Thus,it is worth popularizing and applying in the clinic.

Visual modeling reveals cryptic aspect in egg mimicry of Himalayan Cuckoo(Cuculus saturatus) on its host Blyth's Leaf Warbler(Phylloscopus reguloides)

Brood parasitism and egg mimicry of Himalayan Cuckoo（Cuculus saturatus） on its host Blyth＇s Leaf Warbler（Phylloscopus reguloides） were studied in south-western China from April to July 2009.The cuckoo laid a white egg with fine brown markings on the blunt end.The eggs were conspicuously bigger than the host＇s own,with 2.06 g in mass and 1.91 cm3 in volume.Visual modeling showed that the cuckoo eggs,which from the human eye appeared to mimic the host eggs to a great extent,were completely different from the host eggs in both hue and chroma.The characters of the Himalayan Cuckoo nestling,reported for the first time,included two triangular and black patches on its gape,which appeared from four days old and became darker with age and growth.While this character also exists in nestlings of Oriental Cuckoo（C.optatus）,it has not been found for other Cuculus species.Our results reveal cryptic aspects in the cuckoo-host egg color matching,which are not visible to the naked human eye,and indicate that high mimetic cuckoo eggs rejected by hosts,as determined by human observers in previous studies,might not be mimetic as birds see them.

细粒棘球蚴egG1Y162抗原基因的克隆及蛋白质序列分析

目的克隆细粒棘球蚴egG1Y162基因序列并进行蛋白序列对比分析。方法从细粒棘球蚴原头蚴提取mRNA,mRNA反转录为cDNA。设计特异引物,以cDNA为模板扩增egG1Y162基因,构建PUCm-T/egG1Y162重组质粒,经PCR、酶切及测序鉴定后进行序列分析。结果egG1Y162 cDNA为459bp,编码153个氨基酸;同源性比较表明,egG1Y162 cDNA与emY162同源性为95%,与eg95的同源性为30.61%。结论成功克隆egG1Y162抗原基因,egG1Y162蛋白质氨基酸序列与emY162有很高的相似性,但同其他抗原蛋白质序列存在明显差异,所以egG1Y162是一种新的抗原基因。

细粒棘球绦虫egG1Y162抗原基因的克隆及序列分析

根据多房棘球绦虫emY162基因序列设计引物,利用PCR以细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴和成虫的基因组DNA和cDNA为模板扩增egG1Y162基因,构建PUCm-T/egG1Y162和PUCm-T/egG1Y162cDNA重组质粒,经PCR、酶切及测序后,进行序列分析。细粒棘球绦虫2个不同发育阶段均克隆出egG1Y162基因,从基因组DNA和cDNA克隆得到的片段长度分别为1680bp和459bp,登录号分别为AB458258和AB458259。

细粒棘球绦虫重组BCG-EgG1Y162菌株的构建和表达

目的构建和表达细粒棘球绦虫重组卡介苗(BCG)菌株rBCG-EgG1Y162。方法通过基因工程技术将细粒棘球绦虫抗原EgG1Y162的编码基因与大肠埃希菌(E.coli)-分枝杆菌穿梭表达质粒载体pMV361重组,并转化E.coli后进行扩增。重组质粒pMV-EgG1Y162经PCR和双酶切鉴定后,进行测序。将鉴定正确的rpMV-EgG1Y162通过电穿孔技术转化至感受态BCG菌株中,构建rBCG-EgG1Y162。经PCR和双酶切鉴定正确后,扩增培养2周,并于45℃放置30 min,诱导目的蛋白表达,十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)分析蛋白表达情况,并以兔抗原核表达重组蛋白EgG1Y162血清为一抗进行蛋白质印迹(Western blotting)分析。结果重组质粒rpMV-EgG1Y162经PCR扩增和双酶切后,均获得约360 bp的EgG1Y162目的基因片段,与预期片段长度一致,测序结果表明插入序列正确。将其通过电穿孔转化BCG菌株后,rBCG-EgG1Y162生长良好,经酶切和PCR鉴定正确。SDS-PAGE和Western blotting结果显示,目的表达产物的相对分子质量(Mr)约为71 000。结论构建和表达了细粒棘球绦虫rBCG-EgG1Y162菌株。

细粒棘球绦虫EgG1Y162-1/2重组蛋白诱导小鼠免疫应答特点的比较

目的研究和对比经生物信息学分析后重组构建的EgG1Y162-1/2蛋白诱导小鼠产生免疫应答反应的特点。方法随机将60只小鼠分5组,根据所注射抗原的不同分为EgG1Y162-1组、EgG1Y162-2组、GST对照组、佐剂组和正常对照组。每2周免疫1次,共免疫4次。采集免疫前后的小鼠血清进行Elisa检测抗体效价;流式细胞术检测不同时间点淋巴细胞亚群(CD4^+T细胞和CD8^+T细胞)的动态变化;免疫10周后用细粒棘球蚴感染攻击小鼠,对比小鼠脾淋巴细胞体外刺激后的增殖反应、脾细胞凋亡率和小鼠囊重抑制率的检测结果。结果免疫后第10周,EgG1Y162-2组抗体滴度为1∶20 480高于EgG1Y162-1组抗体滴度1∶5 120。经原头蚴感染攻击的EgG1Y162-2组的淋巴细胞亚群(CD4^+T细胞、CD8^+T细胞)百分比均高于EgG1Y162-1组,且差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),但CD4^+T/CD8^+T细胞比值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。免疫后的EgG1Y162-2组小鼠脾淋巴细胞在体外被特异性刺激后增殖水平高于EgG1Y162-1组,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。检测显示EgG1Y162-2组的脾细胞凋亡率低于EgG1Y162-1,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。疫苗保护实验中发现EgG1Y162-1组的小鼠囊重抑制率比EgG1Y162-2组低,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。结论EgG1Y162-2抗原比EgG1Y162-1抗原具有更强的免疫优势作用,本研究不仅证明了生物信息学分析表位的准确性,也提示该表位信息丰富的抗原值得作为疫苗的保护性抗原进行深入研究。

细粒棘球蚴egG1Y162疫苗对小鼠免疫应答的研究

目的观察细粒棘球蚴egG1Y162疫苗免疫小鼠后机体的免疫应答状况。方法实验组、GST对照组、佐剂组和正常组小鼠分别注射egG1Y162疫苗、谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(GSTs)、佐剂(FCA)和生理盐水(NS),在免疫第0、2、4、6、8和10周,收集各组血清用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA法)检测抗体滴度,并检测各组血清抗体IgG的动态变化。第10周用四甲基偶氮唑蓝实验(MTT法)检测免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞体外刺激后的增殖反应,用AnnexinV-FITC和碘化丙啶(PI)双染色法检测脾细胞凋亡率。结果 egG1Y162疫苗免疫组小鼠在第2周免疫后检测到抗体,在免疫第10周,抗体滴度可达到1∶25 600。血清抗体IgG在免疫第2～10周不断升高,并在免疫第10周达到最高水平。MTT法显示egG1Y162疫苗免疫组小鼠脾淋巴细胞在体外能被egG1Y162疫苗特异性刺激增生。疫苗刺激后疫苗组增殖水平显著高于对照组、佐剂组和正常组(P<0.05)。AnnexinV-FITC和PI双染色法结果显示实验组小鼠脾细胞原液和ConA刺激细胞凋亡发生率均显著低于对照组(P<0.01),每组ConA刺激脾细胞凋亡发生率显著高于相应的原液培养(P<0.01)。结论细粒棘球绦虫egG1Y162疫苗可诱导小鼠产生高效价抗体并可刺激脾淋巴细胞增殖活化、抑制脾细胞凋亡,特异性抗体反应和脾淋巴细胞增殖活化促进机体产生体液免疫反应和细胞免疫反应,共同协调诱导机体产生免疫应答反应。

图文法EGG在设计模式中的应用

对图变换和可视化语言的研究激发并促进了图文法的研究和发展。作为一维字符文法的扩展,图文法可以形式化描述二维空间中的对象,如图像、图形和表格等,为它们的定义、生成、变换及分析提供理论和技术上的支持。设计模式是可复用面向对象软件的基础,通常以二维图的形式来表示。为了与用户多样化的需求相适应,设计模式经常需要在不改变系统基本结构的情况下进行演化。本文讨论了图文法EGG及其形式化方法在设计模式的演化中的应用,聚焦在图变换和图解析两方面。前者用EGG格式的产生式作为图重写式来指导图的每一次变换,以确保相应设计模式演化每一步的正确性;后者用EGG文法机制来对图进行归约,以检查随意演化后的设计模式是否合法。

Embryogenesis of Polyembryonic Rice ApⅢ: Structural and Histochemical Studies of Egg Apparatus Around Fertilization

The structural and histochemical changes of the egg apparatus in the polyembryonic rice ( Oryza sativa L.), ApⅢ with the highest frequence of additional embryos among the polyembryonic rice investigated, before and after fertilization were studied and compared with those of normal and other polyembryonic rices in a similar developmental period. A total of 2 932 ovules were observed and each of them contained only a single embryo sac with a set of egg apparatus. Among 1 655 embryo sacs, there were 1 643 embryo sacs (99.27%) with one normal egg apparatus in each embryo sac, and only 12 embryo sacs (0.73%) from the remainder with 4_celled egg apparatus, i.e. two eggs and two synergids. Neither the numerous poly_egg apparatus and egg_like cells, nor the double set of embryo sacs each containing one egg apparatus and other abnormal egg apparatus in single ovary, which were reported by earlier investigators to have high frequency of embryo production in SB_1 and ApⅣ, were observed. The egg cell was located at the subterminal site of the micropylar end of embryo sac. The cytoplasm of egg cell was rich in protein materials and polysaccharide grains, which did not disappear until the division of zygote. The prominent nucleus was closely surrounded by protein and polysaccharide grains, which did not disappear until the division of zygote. No cytological difference was found between egg cells from the normal and abnormal egg apparatus. The two synergids were fully developed and situated at the upper most part of the micropylar end of the mature embryo sac. In most embryo sacs, the synergids were flask_shaped with longer necks, and a widened cap_shaped top, in close contact with the micropyle. The synergids had a well developed filiform apparatus. The characteristic appearance of the filiform apparatus as well as the cap_neck region of synergids before and after pollen tube penetration were easily distinguishable from the egg cell. The structure, the stainability with Coomassie Brilliant Blue and PAS reaction, the process of accumulation, distribution and disapperance of the cytoplasmic protein materials and polysaccharide grains of the two synergids, the persistent and rarely the receptive synergids before and after pollen tube penetration, were closely similar to those of egg cell of the same developmental stage. In comparison with normal and other polyembryonic rice reported, the size of nucleus and nucleolus and their stainability also strongly resembled those of egg cell. Based on the results observed, the main conclusions are summarized as follows: (1) the additional embryos very frequently developed in the young and mature seed of polyembryonic rice ApⅢ were produced by one or two synergids of normal egg apparatus, rarely by 4_celled egg apparatus; (2) during fertilization, the synergids, in addition to the natural specific function of introducing pollen tube and transferring sperms to egg cell and central cell, could be closely associated with the potentiality to breed one or two additional embryos; and (3) as compared with that of normal or other polyembryonic rice it is firstly disclosed that in a few embryo sacs of ApⅢ, the cytoplasmic and nuclear structure, the active anabolism and catabolism of protein and polysaccharide materials and the delayed disorganization at the mid_basal region of the receptive and persistent synergid still remained unchanged before the division of zygote. Such salient features could be the predisposition for the origin of additional embryos in ApⅢ.

温州吴语声调的EGG研究

EGG信号的各项参数证明:1)温州吴语今仍为平上去入各分阴阳的八调;2)阳上在向阴上、阳平并拢,阳平自身也不稳定;阴入阳入在合并;3)入声单字调已舒化,双字组中前字入声短、后字入声长;4)时长短、音高低导致温州吴语阳平尾部、阴去尾部和阳上前部出现紧喉音。

Eggs mimicry of Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) utilizing Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis alphonsianus) host

Polymorphism in egg coloration is prominent in the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and a common host, the Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis alphonsianus). Egg polymorphism has probably evolved as a consequence of frequency-dependent selection in both host and parasite, and has, according to human vision, resulted in discrete immaculate white, pale blue and blue egg phenotypes within a single population. However, egg mimicry assessment is not always straightforward, and previous studies have shown that human based comparisons applied to the coloration of bird eggs may be inadequate. Here, we objectively quantify egg color of both parasite and host by spectrophotometry and assess egg mimicry of the Common Cuckoo to the eggs of its Ashy-throated Parrotbill host. Our results revealed that egg reflectance spectra agree well with the assessment based on human vision that cuckoo eggs mimic those of the parrotbill host, in both visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) ranges. However, the white cuckoo egg shows slightly poorer mimicry than the blue cuckoo egg in corresponding host clutches. We suggest that the white parrotbill egg morph (and subsequently the whitish cuckoo egg color) may have evolved after the evolution of the blue egg morph due to strong selection from parasites in the cuckoo-parrotbill system.