Are thermal constants constant? A test using two species of ladybird

There is a controversy about whether the thermal constants, lower developmental threshold, rate of development and corresponding degree days required for development, change when a species is reared under different developmental conditions. We present a more precise way of measuring these constants using the linear relationship between the rate of development and temperature. First we use the equation proposed by Ikemoto and Takai (2000) to determine the linear phase of development and then a generalised linear model having a different variance at low and high temperatures, specific for each condition, to estimate the parameters of the linear relationship. Using this method, we show that providing the difference in food quality is sufficiently great, an aphidophagous ladybird develops significantly faster and starts developing at a significantly lower temperature on a good than on a poor quality diet. Adaptive significance of the thermal constants not remaining constant is discussed in terms of a trade-off between growth and rate of development, when temperature and food quality varies.     

The application of single beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level measurement in women undergoing single blastocyst transfer

We previously explored the associations between β-hCG on the 14th day post–embryo transfer (ET) and reproductive outcomes and established a series of cutoff values to predict different outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the parameters associated with β-hCG levels and establish β-hCG cutoff values in women undergoing single blastocyst transfer. The patients were transferred with either fresh or frozen-thawed blastocysts. Serum β-hCG levels were compared among different groups. Cutoff values of β-hCG were established and applied to divide the patients into different groups, among which the β-hCG groups were compared. Develop day negatively affected β-HCG levels in those who were pregnant or gave live birth (P < 0.001, 0.008). Inner cell mass significantly affected β-hCG levels in women who were pregnant or gave live birth (P = 0.013, 0.044). Trophectoderm significantly affected β-hCG levels in women with most reproductive outcomes, except biochemical pregnancy (BP) (P = 0.184). The cutoff values of β-hCG for predicting positive outcomes were 194.1, 503.0, 1048.0, and 2590.5 mIU/L. BP rates and adverse pregnancy outcome rates were significantly lower in the higher β-hCG groups (P < 0.001). Shorter gestational age and lower birth weight and length (P = 0.005, 0.041, 0.003) were observed in the lowest-concentration β-hCG group. The application of a single β-hCG measurement was sufficient to predict reproductive outcome in women undergoing blastocyst transfer, under the full consideration of blastocyst parameters. However, the association between β-hCG and obstetric outcomes remains to be investigated and fully explained.     

Field evaluation of heat units for predicting crop residue carbon and nitrogen mineralization

More efficient fertilization practices could conceivably be developed if nutrient availability from manures and crop residues could be accurately predicted under field conditions. Heat units were recently found useful for describing the combined thermal and temporal relationships with papermill sludge C and N mineralization. This study was conducted to describe C and N mineralization of corn (Zea mays L. cv. ‘King 1113’), lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. ‘ultra’), and potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. ‘russet burbank’) residues and to field test the utility of heat units in predicting these processes. Residues of each crop were applied to soil microplots in May, June, and July of 1987. Carbon mineralization was monitored by periodic capture of evolved CO₂ in alkali traps. Nitrogen mineralization-immobilization processes were followed by frequent sampling for KCl extractable inorganic N. Net N mineralization from the potato residue occurred almost immediately after residue application, apparently owing to its relatively low C/N of 15/1. Net N mineralization from the corn and lupin residues began 119, 99, and 317 d after application in the May, June, and July application months, respectively. These respective times represented 2346, 1990, and 2360 degree days after application. Heat units appear to provide a mathematically simple, pragmatic approach for predicting crop residue N mineralization under field climatic conditions.