Hornera currieae n. sp. (Cyclostomatida: Horneridae): a new bathyal cyclostome bryozoan with reproductively induced skeletal plasticity

Here we describe a new hornerid, Hornera currieae n. sp. (Bryozoa: Cyclostomatida) from bathyal depths across the New Zealand region. Colonies are irregular, finely branched fans attaining ~40 mm or more in height. Key characters include: (1) thick, semi-hyaline porcellanous skeleton; (2) loss or reduction of nervi (longitudinal striae) away from growing tips; (3) sparse, threadlike cancelli; and (4) small (61–87 µm), widely spaced autozooidal apertures. Diagnostic hornerid traits possessed by H. currieae n. sp. include vertical ancestrular tube, periancestrular budding of daughter zooids, and skeletal ultrastructure dominated by hexagonal semi-nacre grading to pseudofoliated fabric. The abfrontal incubation chamber develops from a cryptic tube arising from the frontally positioned aperture of the fertile zooid. We used SEM, micro-CT and electron backscatter diffractometry (EBSD) to investigate the ultrastructure and internal architecture of H. currieae n. sp. EBSD reveals that crystalline c-axes of laminated crystallites are perpendicular to skeletal walls. Threadlike cancelli, which traverse secondary calcification, connect autozooidal chambers to the colony-wide hypostegal cavity. Micro-CT reveals that abfrontal cancelli usually bend proximally towards the base, but turn distally towards reproductively active regions of the colony in synchrony with gonozooid development. The zone of affected cancelli extends for 4–7 branch internodes below the gonozooid. We assessed whether skeletal ultrastructure was similarly affected, but neither cancellus direction, nor gonozooid proximity, were predictive of the crystallite imbrication direction. We hypothesise that (1) hornerid cancelli are active conduits for colonial metabolite transport and (2) that changes in gradients of metabolites and/or reproductive morphogens within the hypostegal cavity affect cancellus morphogenesis. Potentially, H. currieae n. sp. skeletons may preserve a record of intra-colony metabolite translocation dynamics over time.

VEGF Detection via Simplified FLISA Using a 3D Microfluidic Disk Platform

Fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA) is a commonly used, quantitative technique for detecting biochemical changes based on antigen–antibody binding reactions using a well-plate platform. As the manufacturing technology of microfluidic system evolves, FLISA can be implemented onto microfluidic disk platforms which allows the detection of trace biochemical reactions with high resolutions. Herein, we propose a novel microfluidic system comprising a disk with a three-dimensional incubation chamber, which can reduce the amount of the reagents to 1/10 and the required time for the entire process to less than an hour. The incubation process achieves an antigen–antibody binding reaction as well as the binding of fluorogenic substrates to target proteins. The FLISA protocol in the 3D incubation chamber necessitates performing the antibody-conjugated microbeads’ movement during each step in order to ensure sufficient binding reactions. Vascular endothelial growth factor as concentration with ng mL−1 is detected sequentially using a benchtop process employing this 3D microfluidic disk. The 3D microfluidic disk works without requiring manual intervention or additional procedures for liquid control. During the incubation process, microbead movement is controlled by centrifugal force from the rotating disk and the sedimentation by gravitational force at the tilted floor of the chamber.

DYNAMIC PROCESSES ANALYSIS IN THE TEMPERATURES STABILIZATION SYSTEM, IN THE INCUBATIOM CHAMBER

Thermal processes in incubation chamber were investigated. From the investigations, the recommendations were developed for controlling the temperature in this precision system based on the synthesis of correcting devices, allowing one to improve its functional quality.

Reduced Time to Positive Cutibacterium acnes Culture Utilizing a Novel Incubation Technique: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction Cutibacterium acnes ( C. acnes) is a common pathogen in postoperative shoulder infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time to positive cultures for C. acnes and compare our experience before and after implementation of a regulated anaerobic chamber system. We hypothesized that this would reduce the time to identify positive cultures. Methods This was a retrospective review of 34 patients with cultures obtained from the shoulder that were positive for C. acnes. The time until positive result was evaluated before and after implementation of a regulated anaerobic incubation chamber. Results Following implementation of the regulated anaerobic incubation chamber, the time until C. acnes culture growth significantly decreased from 6.5 days (range 3–10 days) to 4.9 days (range 2.75–10 days) (mean difference: 1.6 days, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–2.66 days; P = .002). True infections had a significantly shorter time to positive culture compared to contaminants (5.5 vs 6.8 days, respectively, P = .003). Increased number of positive culture specimens correlated with a shorter time to positivity (Spearman rank = −0.58, P = .007). Conclusion Improved anaerobic culture protocols and techniques may lead to greater accuracy and earlier diagnosis and initiation of treatment of postoperative shoulder infections.

NOTES ON THE BIOMETRY, ORIENTATION AND SPATIAL LOCALIZATION OF THE NESTS OF THE GLOBALLY NEAR-THREATENED STRAIGHT-BILLED REEDHAUNTER (LIMNOCTITES RECTIROSTRIS)

We report the records of three nests of Straight-billed Reedhaunter,Limnoctites rectirostris, in southernmost Brazil. For each nest, we collected information about the biometry, spatial localization within the patch (border or inland) and cardinal orientation of the incubation chamber. Information on number of eggs and reproductive success is also presented. All nests were found early in September. The three nests were situated on the edge of patches and guided incubation chamber opening between north and east. All results are discussed. The information presented herein extends the scarce knowledge about the breeding biology of the Straight-billed Reedhaunter.

A large-scale on-chip droplet incubation chamber enables equal microbial culture time

A compact on-chip first-in first-out droplet incubation chamber enables an equal droplet incubation time for a large number of droplets.

Incubation Chamber Temperature Controller Design and Simulation

The traditional incubation chamber temperature PID control system has poor stability, control precision results are poor, not adjust the PID parameters and other issues, this paper presents a way to use Darling algorithm design incubation chamber temperature controller scheme, and introduced this system controller algorithm design steps, simulation results, and conducting field experiments. Simulation results show that the practical result table control method overshoot, settling time shortened, and can effectively improve system response speed and control precision.

The Application of Iteration Learning Control in Silkworm Incubation Chamber System

Silkworm egg incubation is a very complicated process and is hard to establish the mathematical model. In order to improve the temperature and humidity of silkworm incubation chamber control method, the paper deal with the method of iteration learning control looking for expected input. Based on the summary of human experience, designing learning rule is given. The simulation result shows iterative learning control has ideal tracking control.