The Influencing Factor of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryonic Transfer in the Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus)

This study was conducted to explore the influencing factors of ova in vitro fertilization (IVF) and transfer of the fertilized ova into the oviduct of recipient hens. The efficiency of fertilization was compared using three aspects: (i) the different time of ova collection and transfer, (ii) egg‐laying period of recipient hen; and (iii) semen volume. The following results are observed: 72%, 40% and 0% of ova were found in ovarian sac in 30～40 min, 50～60 min and more than 90 min post‐oviposition, respectively; 20%, 18%, 14% and 5.8% of ova were fertilized with 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 ml semen, respectively; and 33% and 100% of healthy chickens were hatched from fertile ova with 0.1 and 0.5 ml of semen, respectively. All oocytes obtained from ovary and mid‐oviduct were unfertilized. Embryos were transferred into recipient hens 30 min ± 10 min post‐oviposition, and 70% of shelled eggs were produced. There were no eggs produced in the other transfer times. This demonstrated that live chicken can be obtained by IVF of ova collected shortly after oviposition. It was important that the ovum was transferred into the oviduct infundibulum of recipient hens immediately or shortly after oviposition.     

Estimation of yield zones using aerial images and yield data from a few tracks of a combine harvester

Yield maps derived from yield mapping systems are often erroneous not only due to limitations in measuring the yield precisely but due to insufficient consideration of the requirements of yield mapping systems in practice as well. Aerial images of cultivated crop fields at an advanced growth stage frequently provide a spatial pattern similar to that of yield maps. Therefore, the possibility of generating a yield map using aerial images and measured yield data of a few tracks was examined for a period of 2 years in two fields grown with cereals. Yield zones based on Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI) values were compared with yield zones based on measured yield data of the whole field. About half of the grid cells of a field were allocated to the same yield zones irrespective of the mode of yield determination. Using the Kruskal–Wallis test, the data sub-sets of measured yield within the yield zones based on the VARI values differed significantly for all tested yield zones. As a result, the approach was successful in the case of these experimental sites.     

Schwermetallgehalte im Kultursubstrat und Erntegut des Champignons,Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Singer,beim Einsatz von Müllklärschlammkompost

Heavy metal contents in the culture substrate and in the mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, grown in composts mixed with municipal waste and sewage The addition of increasing quantities of municipal waste compost to conventional horse manure compost resulted in a proportional increase in the heavy metal content of the mixture. The increases ranged between 250% (zinc) and 900% (mercury). Ninety-four to ninety-nine percent of the heavy metals in municipal waste compost are bound in compounds from which they can not be extracted using CaCl₂ solution. The amounts extractable from horse manure compost with CaCl2₂ solution are from 1.5 (zinc)- to 33 (mercury)-times higher. The influences of the increasing quantities of heavy metals in municipal waste — horse manure composts are demonstrable in the content of these metals in harvested mushroom. This, in turn, corresponds to the availability of the metals. The relative enrichment is greatest with mercury, and least with cadmium. The quantities found in mushrooms, with the exception of mercury, fall within the normal range detected in vegetable crops.     

Suspected Vestia foetida poisoning in young goats

CASE HISTORY: Two crossbred, castrated male goats, a 5-month-old and an 8-month-old, were observed ingesting Vestia foetida (Solanaceae). Later, the goats were seen standing splay-legged and apparently disoriented.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: When examined, both goats were in sternal recumbency and had mydriasis; the younger goat had a diminished menace response. When the goats were made to stand, they were ataxic and had muscle fasciculations of the hindquarters and face. Both had halitosis consistent with the odour of crushed Vestia leaves. The animals were treated with a mixture of vitamins and intravenous diazepam. The older goat recovered but the younger goat died and was necropsied. This animal had severe periacinar necrosis and fatty change in the liver, as well as fatty nephrosis.

DIAGNOSIS: Probable Vestia foetida poisoning.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The introduction of Vestia foetida to New Zealand and the apparent palatability of the plant necessitate that veterinarians and owners be knowledgeable about its potential toxicity. Differential diagnoses for the liver lesions (in New Zealand) would include Cestrum poisoning, acute seneciosis, acute blue-green algal poisoning, and acute and chronic copper poisoning.     

铲式成穴器成穴性能的试验研究

根据铲式成穴器的成穴机理确定了其结构参数和工作参数的设计变化范围并按照二次回归试验设计方法进行了成穴器参数地成穴性能影响的试验,通过对试验结果垢统计分析,查明了成穴器参数对穴孔长度,穴孔宽度穴距和滑移系数的影响。     

Maintenance carbon requirements of actively-metabolizing microbial populations under in situ conditions

For estimating turnover rates of soil microbial populations or for energy balance studies maintenance coefficients of microorganisms grown in vitro have generally been used. To study maintenance carbon requirements under in situ conditions the biomasses of two agricultural soils (Cambisol, Chernozem) and a beech forest soil (Rendzina) were activated metabolically and the CO₂ production rate at 22°C recorded every hour. In soil samples treated with increasing amounts of glucose the concentration was determined that still yielded a maximal initial respiratory response but where the CO₂ rate remained constant over 8–13 h. Decrease of CO₂ production after that time was directly related to glucose exhaustion. The amount of glucose-C which kept the CO₂-C rate at the previous level was regarded as the maintenance ration. Values for the maintenance coefficient m (mg glucose-C mg^?1 biomass-C) were 0.012 h^?1 for the two agricultural soils and 0.03 h^?1 for the forest soil. The metabolic quotient qCO₂ and maintenance values were identical for both agricultural soils and the qCO₂ values were the same in the three soils used. No net growth was observed during the experimental period using bacterial plate counts and nalidixic acid treatment as test measurements.The determined m values reflect all individual maintenance requirements of species belonging to the total active biomass pool in these particular soils and correspond to known values from in vitro studies. The relationship between annual input of carbon and the maintenance requirements of actively-metabolizing biomasses are discussed.     

Mineralization of bacteria and fungi in chloroform-fumigated soils

It has been suggested by others that the size of the flush of mineralization caused by CHC1₃ fumigation can be used to estimate the amount of microbial biomass in soils. Calculation of biomass from the flush requires that the proportion of CHCl₃-killed cell C mineralized be known. To determine this proportion, 15 species of [¹⁴C]labelled fungi and 12 species of [¹⁴C]labelled bacteria were added to four types of soil and these were fumigated for 24 h with CHC1₃, reinoculated with unfumigated soil, and incubated at 22°C for 10 days. The average percentage mineralization of the fungi was 43.7 ± 5.3, while the average for the bacteria was 33.3 ± 9.9. Using a 1:3 ratio for distribution of total biomass between the bacterial and fungal populations, respectively, it was calculated that the average mineralization of both types of cells was 41.1%. In experiments conducted to determine if CHC1₃ vapour alters stabilized microbial metabolites or dead microbial cells in a manner which makes them more susceptible to degradation, it was found that both fumigated and unfumigated dead fungal materials mineralized to the same extent in soil during 10 days of incubation.