Prediction of baking results from farinograph measurements by using stepwise linear regression and artificial neuronal networks

In an effort to extract additional data from farinograph experiments a model was developed to simulate the measurements and correlate the parameters of the model with results from baking tests. This additional information can be used in bakeries to predict the baking properties of the flours and adjust the recipes to maintain a constant product quality. For this eight different flours were characterized with a farinograph and 13 different results from baking experiments. An approach with five nonlinear differential equations was able to model the farinograph measurements very well (average R² = 0.995 ± 0.005). While a stepwise multilinear regression only showed weak correlations in cross validation between a single parameter of the model and the baking volume (R² = 0.745) and the volume yield (R² = 0.796) respectively, the artificial neuronal network was more successful. For the baking weight (R² = 0.926), the dough yield gross (R² = 0.909) and net (R² = 0.913) strong correlations were found. A good correlation for the baking volume (R² = 0.853) was also determined, while the volume yield showed comparable results to the linear regression (R² = 0.792).     

A comparison of the effects of carbon dioxide and medical air for abdominal insufflation on respiratory parameters in xylazine-sedated sheep undergoing laparoscopic artificial insemination

AIMS: To determine if abdominal insufflation with medical air will improve oxygenation and ventilation parameters when compared to insufflation with CO₂ in xylazine-sedated sheep undergoing laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI).

METHODS: Forty-seven sheep underwent oestrus synchronisation and were fasted for 24 hours prior to laparoscopic AI. Each animal was randomised to receive either CO₂ or medical air for abdominal insufflation. An auricular arterial catheter was placed and utilised for serial blood sampling. Respiratory rates (RR) and arterial blood samples were collected at baseline, after xylazine (0.1?mg/kg I/V) sedation, 2 minutes after Trendelenburg positioning, 5 minutes after abdominal insufflation, and 10 minutes after being returned to a standing position. Blood samples were collected in heparinised syringes, stored on ice, and analysed for arterial pH, partial pressure of arterial O₂ (PaO₂), and CO₂ (PaCO₂). The number of ewes conceiving to AI was also determined.

RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated temporal effects on RR, PaO₂, PaCO₂ and arterial pH during the laparoscopic AI procedure (p<0.001), but no difference between insufflation groups (p>0.01). No sheep experienced hypercapnia (PaCO₂>50?mmHg) or acidaemia (pH<7.35). Hypoxaemia (PaO₂<70?mmHg) was diagnosed during the procedure in 14/22 (64%) ewes in the CO₂ group compared with 8/23 (35%) ewes in the medical air group (p=0.053). Overall, 15/20 (75%) ewes in the CO₂ group conceived to AI compared with 16/22 (72.7%) in the medical air group (p=0.867).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There were no statistical or clinical differences in RR, PaO₂, PaCO₂, pH, or conception to AI when comparing the effects of CO₂ and medical air as abdominal insufflation gases. None of the sheep experienced hypercapnia or acidaemic, yet 42% (19/45) of sheep developed clinical hypoxaemia, with a higher percentage of ewes in the CO₂ group developing hypoxaemia than in the medical air group. Based on the overall analysis, medical air could be utilised as a comparable alternative for abdominal insufflation during laparoscopic AI procedures.     

The effects of density and artificial substrate on intensive shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei nursery production

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can be installed indoors, allowing year-round production of tropical animals in nearly any climate. A nursery phase is commonly used in Litopenaeus vannamei production since it allows for enhanced biosecurity and better quantification of animals while reducing space requirements. However, it is unclear whether animal density and inclusion of artificial substrate may improve shrimp performance during the nursery phase. In this experiment, we compared shrimp production parameters in two stocking densities with or without the use of an artificial substrate by creating four treatments: low-density LD; 1500 PL/m⁻³, low-density with substrate LDS, high-density HD; 3000 PL/m⁻³), and high-density with substrate (HDS). The LDS and HDS treatments included 0.46-m² of high-density polyethylene 2.5-cm mesh as a substrate, which increased the tank surface area by 21 %. Each treatment was randomly assigned to four 160-l culture tanks, each with a biofilter. The shrimp had an initial weight of 4 mg and were grown for 50 days. The low-density treatments had significantly higher dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH than the high-density treatments (P ≤ 0.001). Specifically, LDS had the highest DO and pH followed by the LD, HD, and HDS treatments, respectively. High-density treatments had significantly higher NO₂-N levels than low-density treatments during week 2 of the experiment when an unusually high concentration of nitrite was observed. FCR was significantly lower in both low-density treatments than in high-density treatments. At harvest, the total biomass (kg m⁻³) was significantly higher in high-density treatments than in low-density treatments (P ≤ 0.001), and the HDS treatment had a significantly greater biomass output than HD. Producers should consider artificial substrate and higher densities during nursery production to maximize shrimp production; however, the effects on water quality should also be taken into account.     

扁穗牛鞭草人工草地中空心莲子草杂草防除效果研究

利用水花生净除莠剂可有效地防除扁穗牛鞭草人工草地中的杂草空心莲子草,平均株防效达26.7%～99.8%,并且在较高防效下药剂对扁穗牛鞭草较为安全。在空心莲子草杂草生长盛期,14%的水花生净乳油以浓度为675ml/hm2～900ml/hm2、各处理对水600ml的防除效果最佳,可达到100%。综合考虑,以525ml/hm2～675ml/hm2的浓度为宜。     

落叶松人工林林分径级结构的研究

本文描述了落叶松人工林抚育后径级结构特征。试验表明，抚育后的林分在一定密度条件下，其密度遵从Ｗｅｉｂｕｌｌ分布，并能保持相当长的时间不变；其密度较大，Ｗｅｉｂｕｌｌ参数值在２～３间变动，ｂ值在６～８间变动；稀疏时不能用Ｗｅｉｂｕｌｌ分布模拟。     

Spermatophore cryopreservation and artificial insemination of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius)

To develop an appropriate cryopreservation protocol for spermatophores of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, three cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), methanol (MeOH) and ethylene glycol (EG)) at two concentrations (5% and 10%) were examined. Artificial implantation of spermatophores was also carried out to assess the fertilizing ability of fresh and post‐thaw spermatophores. Spermatophores were collected during consecutive regenerations (15‐day intervals) and assessed for qualitative and quantitative changes and also for fertilizing ability by implantation. The mean fertilization rate for artificial insemination using post‐thaw spermatophore was 79.9±3.7%, lower than the fertilization rates observed for artificial implantation using fresh spermatophore and natural mating. Mean hatch rates for fresh spermatophore, frozen‐thawed spermatophore and natural mating were 88.8±0.6%, 87.8±0.4% and 88.3±0.5%, respectively; and there was no difference among the three groups. The mean fertilization rate of spermatophores collected during the first stripping was higher (90.6±0.6) than during the second stripping (85.7±2.6), but the mean hatch rate was not different between the two strippings. The highest mean sperm viability (79.7±0.4%) was obtained from DMSO (5%), with no survival observed in the 10% MeOH treatment. Spermatophore weight, total sperm count and percentage of abnormal sperm were not different between spermatophores collected at the first and second stripping. This is the first study to report high fertilization and hatch rates from cryopreserved spermatophore using artificial implantation of spermatophore before spawning.     

Insemination with Stallion Semen Frozen in 0,5 ml Straws

Contents: An insemination trial using frozen semen is described. The freezing procedure was slightly modified from the Hannover method. The insemination dose consisted of 7 medium straws containing approx 1 10⁹ spermatozoa. A total of 28 mares of the Norwegian Trotter breed were inseminated during the 1991 season. During oestrus the mares were examined at 12 hour intervals, and the insemination was carried out after detection of ovulation. The pregnancy rate was 43% after the first insemination, increased to 68% after second and further to 75% after the third and last insemination. The foaling rate was 61.5%.     

家蚕种茧育稚蚕人工饲料育的比较试验

通过对日系种茧育稚蚕人工饲料育繁育的一代杂交种进行比较试验。探讨人工饲料在种茧育上的应用可能性。     

影响精液冷冻和人工授精效果的因素

通过对精液冷冻保存的细胞反应原理的阐述 ,指出冷冻保护剂甘油对精液保存具有利弊效应 ,提出精子膜脂组成的差异使得不同品种的精子对冷冻损伤的易感性不同。雌性生殖道解剖结构的品种差异 ,精子形态 ,精子运行机制的细微差异 ,人工授精时间及精子的运行能力 ,采精方式等因素对精液冷冻保存和人工授精的成功有决定性作用。研究精子质膜的生物学特性可解决低活力精子的问题 ,然而这并不能解决冷冻后精子质量的个体差异。对精细胞基因组的研究可以找出这些个体的遗传差异。因此 ,冷冻精子和精原细胞 (用于细胞外注射 )的差异已经成为完整基因组问题。     

黑鹳F2的人工孵化及育雏的研究

2001～2004年在齐齐哈尔市龙沙公园对黑鹳F2的5只雏鸟的人工孵化温度和湿度进行记录。并对人工育雏成活的雏鸟的一系列生长指标如：体重、体长、喙长、翅长、跗跖长和尾长等进行测量，探讨黑鹳体长、体重等生长指标生长变化规律。结果表明：黑鹳卵的前中期（1～29d）孵化温度为37．7℃，湿度为55％，后期（29～31d）出雏温度为37℃，相对湿度65％；育雏箱的温度前7d为37℃，以后以每天0．5℃幅度逐渐降低，箱内湿度保持在55％，20日龄后可在室温下饲养；黑鹳F2雏鸟各生长指标的增长呈Logistic曲线。