Effects of different hatcher temperatures on hatching traits of broiler embryos during the last five days of incubation

This study deals with the effects of different hatcher temperatures on hatching traits in modern commercial broiler eggs during the last five days of incubation. The hatching eggs were obtained from a 52-wk old (Ross 308) flock. All eggs were distributed randomly into one incubator and incubated for 17 d using uniform conditions (37.6 ± 0.5 °C and 58% relative humidity). At the start of 18th days of incubation, the eggs were randomly distributed to four experimental hatching cabinets. The temperatures were set in the cabinets at 36.1, 37.2, 38.3 and 39.4 °C from 17 d of incubation until hatch. Hatching time, hatchability, age of mortality and the incidence of embryo malpositions were recorded as percentage of fertile eggs. The highest mean embryonic heat production or eggshell surface temperature occurred in the hatching cabinets operated at 39.9 °C and lowest at 36.1 °C. Eggs incubated at 37.2 °C and 38.3 °C had a significantly higher hatchability than the other treatment groups. High embryo mortality at the late term stage of development was recorded at low (36.1 °C) and very high temperatures (39.9 °C). No significant difference in the incidence of malpositions was observed among the groups. These findings revealed that hatchability might be improved if incubation temperatures of 37.2 °C to 38.3 °C are used during last five days of incubation. The results indicate that the modern hatching broiler egg shows almost similar pattern as past generations for heat production and temperature in hatchers during the last five days of incubation. In other words, in spite of genetic improvements in the modern broilers, the incubation conditions and techniques remained largely unchanged. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 34(4) 2004: 211-21

Partial sequencing of the bottle gourd genome reveals markers useful for phylogenetic analysis and breeding

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bottle gourd [<it>Lagenaria siceraria </it>(Mol.) Standl.] is an important cucurbit crop worldwide. Archaeological research indicates that bottle gourd was domesticated more than 10,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest plants cultivated by man. In spite of its widespread importance and long history of cultivation almost nothing has been known about the genome of this species thus far.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report here the partial sequencing of bottle gourd genome using the 454 GS-FLX Titanium sequencing platform. A total of 150,253 sequence reads, which were assembled into 3,994 contigs and 82,522 singletons were generated. The total length of the non-redundant singletons/assemblies is 32 Mb, theoretically covering ~ 10% of the bottle gourd genome. Functional annotation of the sequences revealed a broad range of functional types, covering all the three top-level ontologies. Comparison of the gene sequences between bottle gourd and the model cucurbit cucumber (<it>Cucumis sativus</it>) revealed a 90% sequence similarity on average. Using the sequence information, 4395 microsatellite-containing sequences were identified and 400 SSR markers were developed, of which 94% amplified bands of anticipated sizes. Transferability of these markers to four other cucurbit species showed obvious decline with increasing phylogenetic distance. From analyzing polymorphisms of a subset of 14 SSR markers assayed on 44 representative China bottle gourd varieties/landraces, a principal coordinates (PCo) analysis output and a UPGMA-based dendrogram were constructed. Bottle gourd accessions tended to group by fruit shape rather than geographic origin, although in certain subclades the lines from the same or close origin did tend to cluster.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work provides an initial basis for genome characterization, gene isolation and comparative genomics analysis in bottle gourd. The SSR markers developed would facilitate marker assisted breeding schemes for efficient introduction of desired traits.</p

The impact of blinding on the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled multiple sclerosis clinical trial

In the randomized, placebo-controlled, physician-blinded Canadian cooperative trial of cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange, neither active treatment regimens (group I: IV cyclophosphamide and prednisone; group II: weekly plasma exchange, oral cyclophosphamide, and prednisone) were superior to placebo (group III: sham plasma exchange and placebo medications) using the blinded, evaluating neurologists' assessments of disease course (primary analysis). All patients were examined by both a blinded and an unblinded neurologist at each assessment in this trial. We compared the blinded and unblinded neurologists' judgment of treatment response and analyzed the clinical behavior of patients who correctly guessed their treatment. The unblinded (but not the blinded) neurologists' scores demonstrated an apparent treatment benefit at 6, 12, and 24 months for the group II patients (not group I or placebo; p < 0.05, two-tailed). There were no significant differences in the time to treatment failure or in the proportions of patients improved, stable, or worse between the group II and group III patients who correctly guessed their treatment assignments and those who did not. Physician blinding prevented an erroneous conclusion about treatment efficacy (false positive, type 1 error)

The impact of blinding on the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled multiple sclerosis clinical trial

In the randomized, placebo-controlled, physician-blinded Canadian cooperative trial of cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange, neither active treatment regimens (group I: IV cyclophosphamide and prednisone; group II: weekly plasma exchange, oral cyclophosphamide, and prednisone) were superior to placebo (group III: sham plasma exchange and placebo medications) using the blinded, evaluating neurologists' assessments of disease course (primary analysis). All patients were examined by both a blinded and an unblinded neurologist at each assessment in this trial. We compared the blinded and unblinded neurologists' judgment of treatment response and analyzed the clinical behavior of patients who correctly guessed their treatment. The unblinded (but not the blinded) neurologists' scores demonstrated an apparent treatment benefit at 6, 12, and 24 months for the group II patients (not group I or placebo; p &lt; 0.05, two-tailed). There were no significant differences in the time to treatment failure or in the proportions of patients improved, stable, or worse between the group II and group III patients who correctly guessed their treatment assignments and those who did not. Physician blinding prevented an erroneous conclusion about treatment efficacy (false positive, type 1 error)

The impact of blinding on the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled multiple sclerosis clinical trial.

In the randomized, placebo-controlled, physician-blinded Canadian cooperative trial of cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange, neither active treatment regimens (group I: i.v. cyclophosphamide and prednisone; group II: weekly plasma exchange, oral cyclophosphamide, and prednisone) were superior to placebo (group III: sham plasma exchange and placebo medications) using the blinded, evaluating neurologists' assessments of disease course (primary analysis). All patients were examined by both a blinded and an unblinded neurologist at each assessment in this trial. We compared the blinded and unblinded neurologists' judgment of treatment response and analyzed the clinical behavior of patients who correctly guessed their treatment. The unblinded (but not the blinded) neurologists' scores demonstrated an apparent treatment benefit at 6, 12, and 24 months for the group II patients (not group I or placebo; p &lt; 0.05, two-tailed). There were no significant differences in the time to treatment failure or in the proportions of patients improved, stable, or worse between the group II and group III patients who correctly guessed their treatment assignments and those who did not. Physician blinding prevented an erroneous conclusion about treatment efficacy (false positive, type 1 error)

Proceedings of PVP2005 2005 ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Division Conference PVP2005-71581 THE EFFECT OF MANUFACTURING PROCESS ON RESIDUAL STRESSES OF PIPE BENDS

ABSTRACT Feeder pipes in CANDU® reactors are an integral part of the circulating heat transport system, connecting the in-reactor fuel channels with the primary heat transport pipes. The feeder pipes are 1.5&quot; to 3.5&quot; in nominal size and made out of SA-106 Grade B material. A typical CANDU 6 station has 760 feeder pipes, half of which are located at the fuel channel inlet and the other half are at the fuel channel outlet. In one of the CANDU 6 stations, 2 feeder bends were replaced due to through-wall cracks and 6 others were replaced due to partial cracks detected by non-destructive examination techniques. In all cases, cracks were axial in orientation and were either at the inside surface of the bend flanks (approximately 60° from the intrados symmetry plane) or at the outside surface of the bend extrados

General status of cucurbit genetic resources in Turkey

9th EUCARPIA Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae -- MAY 21-27, 2008 -- Avignon, FRANCEWOS: 000263558500001Turkey is very rich in cucurbit genetic resources due to its diverse geographical and ecological situation. Turkey is one of the important diversity centers for cultivated cucurbits because of the adaptation to diverse ecological conditions as result of natural selection and also the farmers selection in accordance with their preference. National collection of Citcurbitaceae species at National Gene Bank of Turkey (AARI) consists of 2223 accessions. Collecting activities have been systematically conducted since early 1960s. 25.7% of this amount is melon, 20.5% is Cucurbita spp., 16.1% is watermelon, 13.4% is cucumber, 7.7% is bottle gourd, 7.2% is squash, 4.2% is winter squash, 3.3% is snake melon, 1.3% is pumpkin, 0.3% Is other cucumbers, 0.2% squirting cucumber and 0.1% of bryony. Melon and watermelon genetic resources collections and their morphological and molecular characterization trials were done In Cukurova University and approximately 400 melon and 355 watermelon accessions were collected. Squash and pumpkin studies were done in Ondokuz Mayis and Ankara University and 128 winter squash, 40 pumpkin populations and 20 snack seed squash were collected and characterized. Selected pumpkins also were characterized molecularly. Bottle gourd characterization trials were done in Mustafa Kemal University and 188 accessions were characterized. Snake melon research activities were conducted at Ankara and Cukurova Universities and 62 accessions were characterized. The evaluation and breeding programs of these genetic resources are ongoing.EUCARPI