[Effects of two microbial agents on high temperature composting of passion fruit marc].

This paper studied the effects of microbial agents Faby (MF) and Rongfeng (MR) on the dynamic changes of temperature, C/N ratio, NH(4)+ -N and NO(3)- -N contents and compost quality in the composting process of passion fruit marc. The results showed that both MF and MR could accelerate the composting process. Compared with the control, these two agents extended the sustaining time of high temperature from 4 days to 11 and 12 days, promoted the decrease of C/N ratio, and the NO(3)- -N concentration increased by 58.

The asymmetry of avian egg-shape: an adaptation for reproduction on dry land.

The present study describes the biological meaning of the asymmetrical shape in avian reproduction using quail. During the incubation of eggs, water was gradually lost and the air chamber which appeared in between the inner and outer shell membranes at the blunt end expanded, so that the angle made by the long egg-axis and the horizontal line increased, presumably because the centre of gravity of the egg contents moved toward the sharp end. The increase in angle occurred in both fertile and infertile eggs, suggesting that this phenomenon occurs irrespective of fertility and is due to the asymmetrical shape.

The magnum-isthmus junction of the fowl oviduct participates in the formation of the avian-type shell membrane.

Avian eggs possess a shell membrane in the shape of an asymmetrical ellipsoid and with a limiting membrane that is a smooth layer of homogeneous, dense materials. We describe the role of the magnum-isthmus junction (MIJ) of the oviduct in the formation of the avian-type shell membrane in the domestic fowl Gallus domesticus. The narrow width of the lumen at the MIJ indirectly participates in the determination of the asymmetrical ellipsoid shape of eggs that are encased by the egg-white layer and subsequently by the peri-albumen layer (PL) and the shell membrane.

Cloning of a quail homologue of hatching enzyme: its conserved function and additional function in egg envelope digestion.

The aim of the present study was to reveal molecular entities participating in the digestion of the egg envelope in the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. We isolated a 1,510-bp cDNA from extraembryonic tissues of developing embryos and designated it quail hatching enzyme (QHE) cDNA. The QHE cDNA was found to code a protein molecule comprising an astacin protease domain in the N-terminal half and a complement subcomponents C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1 (CUB) domain in the C-terminal half.

Possible involvement of a sperm-associated body in the process of fertilization in quail.

The present paper describes a novel structure, termed the sperm-associated body, which is found both in the lumen at the oviductal infundibulum and in the vitelline membrane of the ovum in the quail Coturnix japonica. The fully developed sperm-associated body, which is about 100 microm long, consisted of two parts; a core of concentric-circular appearance and a cortex of needle-like projections. The outer surface of the body was coated with CaCO3.

Two-step consumption of yolk granules during the development of quail embryos.

The mechanism of yolk consumption was studied morphologically and biochemically in Japanese quail Coturnix japonica. The amount of yolk granules in the yolk (or 'yolk cell') decreased in two steps during embryonic development. In the first step, during days 0-4 of incubation, the yolk-granule weight decreased at a rate of 13 mg/day.