bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus and calcium metabolism in growing calves with special emphasis on phosphorus homoeostasis: 2. Studies of the effect of different levels of phosphorus, infused abomasally, on phosphorus metabolism
Authors: Challa J. , Braithwaite G. D.
Published: March 2009

Calves, fed continuously a P-deficient basal diet, were infused abomasally with a phosphate solution supplying either 0, 3, 6 or 9 g P/day in a 4 × 4 latin-square design experiment. Once steady-state conditions were achieved (after 2 weeks of infusion), 32P kinetic studies were carried out. At the same time, P and Ca balances and rates of flow of P at the reticulum were measured.

The rate of dietary P absorbed increased significantly with increasing P supply as did the serum P concentration. The rate of salivary P secretion was directly related to the serum P concentration and hence to P absorption, but the efficiency of absorption of salivary P remained relatively constant, ranging from 70 to 74% depending on treatment.

Despite the high requirements for P, the rate of endogenous faecal P loss increased directly with increased P supply and absorption, suggesting that some increased loss of P with increased P supply was inevitable. Urinary P secretion was negligible when the P supply was low but increased substantially as the serum P concentration increased from 2 to 4 mmol/1, possibly because the renal threshold was exceeded.

The rates of retention of P and Ca were low on the low-P treatment but increased significantly with increased P supply until this reached about 70 mg/day per kg live weight, beyond which they remained fairly constant, presumably because requirements had been met. Since the growth rate did not reach a maximum until the P supply exceeded 65 mg/day per kg live weight, it is suggested that the Agricultural Research Council (1980) recommendations of P requirements (34 mg/day per kg live weight) for these growing calves must be inadequate.

These results suggest that loss of P in saliva and urine may be determined by the serum P concentration whereas the efficiency of absorption of P from the intestine may be regulated according to P requirements.
Acetic acid bacteria can initiate aerobic deterioration of whole crop maize silage
Authors: Spoelstra S. F. , Courtin M. G. , Beers J. A. C. Van
Published: March 2009

Acetic acid bacteria were isolated from maize silages and from samples of maize silage exposed to air. The isolates apparently belonged to the genusAcetobacter. By inoculating maize silage with strains of acetic acid bacteria isolated from silage and by monitoring the development of the microbiota of samples exposed to air it was demonstrated that acetic acid bacteria can be responsible for the onset of aerobic deterioration of maize silage. However, acetic acid bacteria and yeasts often developed simultaneously in uninoculated silage samples exposed to air. In all experiments ethanol was oxidized to acetic acid followed by a rapid oxidation of lactic and acetic acids when ethanol was depleted.
Weed control in sugar cane with hexazinone alone and in combination with diuron
Authors: Fadayomi O.
Published: March 2009

Field studies were conducted at Ilorin and Bacita during the 1985–6 cropping season to evaluate the use of hexazinone [3-cyclohexyl-6-(dimethylamino)-l methyl-1, 3, 5-triazine-2, 4(1 H, 3H)-dione] alone, and in combination with diuron [3,(3,4-dichlorophenyl)l-l dimethyl urea] in crops of sugar cane. Hexazinone, alone or in combination with diuron, effectively controlled a broad spectrum of weeds in a loamy sand soil at Ilorin. Most of the herbicide rates used were, however, severely phytotoxic to the crop. On silty clay-loam soils at Bacita, the same herbicide treatments, while giving effective control similar to that obtained at Ilorin, were not phytotoxic to the crop. Weed control effectiveness was influenced by the percentage of organic matter in the soils and by the amount of herbicides used. A broader spectrum of weeds was controlled by the mixture of hexazinone plus diuron than by hexazinone alone. There was no difference between the performance of the tank and formulated mixtures of hexazinone plus diuron.
The effect of soil temperature modification on the natural pigeonpea (Cajanus cajanL.)—Rhizobiumsymbiosis
Authors: Sidhu B. S. , Beri V. , Meelu O. P.
Published: March 2009

Since the early studies of Jones & Tisdale (1921), temperature has been recognized as influencing symbiosis and as affecting both nodule formation and nitrogen fixation (Roughley & Dart, 1969).
An investigation of two-dimensional yield variability in breeders' small plot barley trials
Authors: Robinson Dorothy L. , Kershaw C. D. , Ellis R. P.
Published: March 2009

This paper describes an investigation into yield variability and spatial correlations in 129 spring barley trials using small plots between 2·4 and 6·0 m2 in area. We report on the efficiencies of the generalized lattice designs used, and discuss the effects of plot size and year-to-year variations. Results indicate that the recommendations of Patterson & Hunter (1983) on choice of block size apply equally well to small-plot trials. The observed variability and correlations are then discussed and so is the potential for improvement by using alternative designs. Patterns of variability were not at all consistent from year to year, or even between trials in the same year, but it appears important to take account of column effects as well as row effects.
Effect of combinations of organic materials and nitrogen fertilizer on growth, yield and nitrogen uptake of rice
Authors: Sharma A. R. , Mittra B. N.
Published: March 2009

In a 2-year study, the growth and yield of lowland rice increased significantly with the combined use of organic materials and N fertilizer in an acid-lateritic soil. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) or water hyacinth compost (WHC) at 10 t/ha along with paddy straw (PS) at 2·5 t/ha increased grain yield by 28%, similar to the increase given by 30 kg N/ha as fertilizer. The combination of FYM and WHC with or without PS produced yields equivalent to those using 50–60 kg/ha N as fertilizer urea. Uptake of N increased but the recovery of applied N decreased both with the application of organic materials and with increasing N. Organic materials considerably improved the fertility status of the soil, as measured by % C and available N, after crop harvest, whereas N fertilizer made no impact on fertility build-up.
Some indices of the carcass composition of Dorset Horn Top Cross lambs. I. Measurements on the live body and carcass, the composition of sample joints and their relationship to carcass composition
Authors: Khandekar V. N. , Goldstone C. L. , McManus W. R.
Published: March 2009

Certain relationships between linear live animal and carcass measurements and the quantitative composition of the half-carcass have been established.

Of the live linear body measurements taken, the length of the fore-cannon bone and length of the hind leg appear to have close relationship with carcass measurements. Live fore-cannon bone is a good index of the total weight of bone in the halfcarcass and therefore has application in the selection of meat sheep.

Of the carcass measurements studied, length of fore-cannon bone and length of tibia + tarsus (T) appear to be satisfactory predictors of the total weight of bone.
Experiments measuring the residual effects of nitrogen fertilizers
Authors: Widdowson F. V. , Penny A.
Published: March 2009

The experiment testing N residues (made on a clay-loam soil) clearly showed that N applied for potatoes benefited the following wheat crop, but that N applied for wheat benefited the following potato crop little. There were no worth-while 1. An experiment on a clay-loam soil measured responses to three amounts of nitrogen on alternate crops of wheat and potatoes; these dressings were tested in all combinations with three rates of N applied 1 and 2 years previously. Nitrogen applied for potatoes consistently increased yields of following wheat. The residue from applying 1·5 cwt. N/acre for potatoes was equivalent to topdressing the wheat with 0·55 cwt. N/acre; the value of the residue was decreased by applying N to the wheat. Potato yields were increased little by applying N to the preceding wheat crop and the residues were of little significance when compared with the responses to new N. There was no gain from N applied 2 years previously for either crop.
In vitro and in vivo rumen protection of proteins coated with calcium soaps of long-chain fatty acids
Authors: Sklan D.
Published: March 2009

The in sacco, in vitro and in vivo effects of feeding proteins partially coated with calcium soaps of longchain fatty acids were examined.

In sacco, 84–90% of whey powder and soya-bean meal coated with calcium salts of fatty acids remained after 20 h incubation in the rumen of sheep. In vitro tests revealed no effects on volatile fatty acid or ammonia production.

In vivo sheep balance studies, where soya-bean meal coated with calcium soaps was substituted for soya-bean meal, showed no effects on ammonia or volatile fatty acid production in the rumen due to the calcium soap coated proteins. No changes were observed in digestibilities of dry matter, nitrogen or acid detergent fibre; total fatty acid digestion increased. Nitrogen balance was improved slightly in sheep fed the protected protein.

It appears that proteins coated with calcium soaps are not degraded in the rumen and thus energy and non-degradable protein can be supplied to ruminants by this route.
Effect of soya-bean protein on the ability of gnotobiotic pig intestine to digest and absorb nutrients
Authors: Ratcliffe B. , Smith M. W. , Miller B. G. , James P. S. , Bourne F. J.
Published: March 2009

Gnotobiotic pigs were fed control and soya-bean protein containing diets in an attempt to identify direct effects of this protein on intestinal structure and function.

Feeding diets containing soya-bean protein for 4 days to 21-day-old gnotobiotic pigs increased crypt depth in the lower half of the small intestine. This increase was accompanied by a corresponding reduction in lactase activity, brought about mainly by a decrease in the apparent rate at which this enzyme appeared in the luminal membrane of developing enterocytes. Sucrase and maltase II and III activities increased slightly in tissue taken from pigs fed soya-bean protein. Alanine transport measured in the presence and absence of Na remained unaffected by change of diet.

The structure and function of control gnotobiotic pig intestine differed from that found in normal unweaned piglets. The possible source of these differences and the probable role played by enteric microflora in amplifying initial effects of soya-bean protein on intestinal function is discussed.
Critical period of weed competition in Egyptian henbane (Hyoscyamus muticus)
Authors: Singh A. , Singh M. , Singh D. V.
Published: March 2009

Lossesc.off. 95 % in dry herb yields of Egyptian henbane (Hyoscyamus muticusL.) were observed due to natural weed growth in experiments conducted on a sandy loam soil of pH 7·8 during the winter (rabi) seasons 1984/85 and 1985/86 at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow. The period between 30 and 75 days after sowing was most critical for weed competition, when weeds with 12·5% of their total growth (in terms of dry matter) reduced henbane dry herb yields by 60%.
Phosphoglucoisomerase-2 allozymes for distinguishing perennial ryegrass cultivars in binary mixtures
Authors: Sanders P. M. , Barker D. J. , Wewala G. S.
Published: March 2009

The analysis of Kennedyet al.(1985) was applied to 150 individuals from each of six plots containing mixtures of the perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.) cultivar Grasslands Nui and the resident ryegrass population at Rawhiti, Central Wairarapa, New Zealand. Four alleles (A, B, CandD) were identified at the phosphoglucoisomerase-2 allozyme locus in the two ryegrass populations. Using the maximum likelihood method, non-linear models were fitted to calculate the percentage contribution of Grasslands Nui to the mixtures. The contribution of Grasslands Nui to the six evaluation plots ranged from 5 to 44%, with S.E.S of 11–17%. The lowest contribution occurred under set stocking with sheep and a low fertilizer regime. The persistence of Grasslands Nui under contrasting grazing managements and fertilizer regimes in this dry environment, and aspects of enzyme electrophoresis application to field trials, are discussed.
Effect of a pharmacological dose of testosterone on growth rate, feed intake and energy metabolism of steers gaining or losing weight on roughage diets
Authors: Hunter R. A.
Published: March 2009

The effect of a pharmacological dose of testosterone propionate, administered by intramuscular injection, on feed intake, live-weight change and fasting metabolism of steers was determined in two experiments. The first consisted of three growth phases: normal weight-gain on a long-chopped lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay dietad libitum(8 weeks), live-weight loss on a low-quality pasture (Dichanthium aristatum) hay dietad libitum(12 weeks) and recovery gain on a lucerne hay dietad libitum(8 weeks). During normal weight-gain, the testosterone-treated steers had significantly (P< 0·01) higher weight gains than untreated steers (1·48v. 0·95 kg/day, respectively). Feed intakes and fasting metabolic rates of treated and control steers were not significantly different, being 28·2 and 29·1 g dry matter/kg live weight and 85·6 and 91·0 KJ/kg per day, respectively. The efficiency of feed conversion was significantly (P< 0·01) better in the treated steers (6·7v. 9·6 feed/kg weight-gain). There was no significant effect of treatment on any of these characters during live-weight loss or recovery gain. The weight changes during these periods wereca.–0·7 kg/day and 1·5 kg/day, respectively. After 12 weeks of severe weight loss, metabolic rate per unit live weight had decreased by 25% compared with that at the start of the weight-loss period.

The second experiment examined the effect of the same dose of intramuscular testosterone propionate on another group of steers fed the low-quality roughage diet during a period of weight loss. Again there was no significant effect of treatment on weight loss, feed intake or fasting metabolism.

It was concluded that the growth response to pharmacological doses of testosterone in well nourished steers was greater than that usually observed in comparisons between bulls and steers, and that testosterone was ineffective when administered to steers losing weight or in recovery gain after severe weight loss.
The effects of diets deficient in phosphorus, phosphorus and vitamin D, or calcium, on the skeleton and teeth of the growing sheep. I. The mineral status of the skeleton and clinical appearance of the teeth
Authors: McRoberts M. R. , Hill R. , Dalgarno A. C.
Published: March 2009

1. Young sheep, aged either 2 or 6 months, were fed for various periods on diets low in either phosphorus, vitamin D, phosphorus and vitamin D, or calcium and subsequently for 12 months on control diets.

2. The effects of treatment on the mineral status of the animals were judged by the calcium and phosphorus contents of the blood, the ash contents and radiological appearance of the bones, and the clinical appearance of the limbs. The quality of the teeth produced by each treatment was judged clinically.
The effects of diets deficient in phosphorus, phosphorus and vitamin D, or calcium, on the skeleton and teeth of the growing sheep IV. The uptake of radioactive phosphorus by the bones and teeth
Authors: McRoberts M. R. , Hill R. , Dalgarno A. C.
Published: March 2009

1. Radioactive phosphorus was injected into young sheep that had been fed diets low in either phosphorus, phosphorus and vitamin D or calcium. Forty-eight hours after the injection the animals were killed and samples of bone and teeth were removed for specific activity determinations.

2. The specific activities of bone varied according to the site from which it was taken, but in general a strong inverse relationship was found between specific activity and the quality of the skeleton.

3. In teeth that were formed during the period the diets deficient in phosphorus or phosphorus and vitamin D were fed, the specific activities of the dentine and enamel were greater than for corresponding tissues from the control animals.
Diallel analysis of bolting in sugarbeet
Authors: Jolliffe T. H. , Arthur A. E.
Published: March 2009

A half-diallel design, with parents, involving a random sample of nine partially inbred (S1) lines was used to examine the genetic control of bolting in a broad-based North-West European sugarbeet breeding population. The diallel was analysed using the Hayman (1954a) and Jinks & Hayman (1953) analyses. Additive genetic effects were shown to be highly important and significant dominance effects were found. A general trend for bolting resistance to be dominant was detected but there was also evidence that the control was ambidirectional. Furthermore, the dominance effects seemed only partially effective. Some indication of epistatic effects was found, although the possibility that this was spurious, caused by failures in the genetic assumptions required by the analyses, is discussed. The genetic control of bolting in the breeding population appeared complex.
The availability of the nitrogen in the crop residues of winter wheat to subsequent crops
Authors: Hart P. B. S. , Powlson D. S. , Poulton P. R. , Johnston A. E. , Jenkinson D. S.
Published: March 2009

Three field experiments in Eastern England, in which 15N-labelled fertilizer had been applied to winter wheat, were used to measure the persistence of the labelled N remaining in soil and stubble at harvest and the availability of this N to up to four subsequent wheat crops. A portion of the labelled fertilizer N quickly became stabilized in the soil, with only small and ever-decreasing amounts recovered by subsequent crops. Combining all sites, all years and all applications of fertilizer, 6·6±1·92 (S.D.) % of the labelled fertilizer remaining in soil (0–70 cm) plus stubble in the year of application was taken up by the next wheat crop, i.e. by the first ‘residual year’ crop. A further 3·5±0·39% was taken up in the second residual year, 2·2±0·43% in the third and 2·2% in the fourth. Loss of residual labelled N was more rapid from a sandy soil than from two heavier-textured soils, particularly in the first residual year. After four residual crops on one of the heavier soils (at Rothamsted), 16% of the labelled N remaining in soil (0–70 cm) and stubble in the year of application had been taken up by the crops, c. 29% had been lost from the soil/crop system and 55% remained in the soil.
Body composition of young sheep and goats determined by the tritium dilution technique
Authors: Benjamin R. W. , Koenig R. , Becker K.
Published: March 2009

Ten young crossbred Finnish Landrace sheep and eleven young crossbred Damascus goats with liveweights ranging from 14 to 50 kg and of different ages and body condition, were used to develop equations to predict the body composition (chemical) in the intact body and dressed carcass of young sheep and goats. After injection with tritiated water, the animals were slaughtered and their carcasses partitioned into anatomical body components which were each analysed for chemical composition (water, fat, protein, ash) and energy content. From these components, the energy content and chemical composition of the intact bodies were calculated by summation. Apart from organ and gut fat, the two species had a similar body component composition. Goat intact bodies were more hydrated and had less fat, but were similar to sheep in protein and ash content. The energy concentration in their body components was also similar, but goats had a lower energy concentration in their intact bodies. Total body water, energy content and dressed carcass were predicted accurately by the derived equations, but fat, protein and ash were predicted with less precision.
The effects of bitumen mulch and sowing date on the establishment and yield of oil-seed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)
Authors: Harper F. , Ferguson R. C.
Published: March 2009

Experiments in 1976 and 1977, in south-east Scotland, with sunflower (cv. Fransol) examined the effects of bitumen mulch applied after sowing, date and depth of sowing on emergence, flowering and yield. Bitumen mulch increased soil temperatures in April and May by 1–4·5 °C resulting in earlier emergence (6–7 days), more complete emergence under adverse conditions of early and deep sowing, and earlier flowering (2–5 days). Delaying sowing from 7 April to 5 May reduced emergence time and time from sowing to first anthesis. Larger seedlings, having an increased leaf area, resulted from bitumen mulching and early sowing.

In the laboratory, increasing temperatures from 5 to 20 °C reduced the average germination time by 0·75 days for each increase of 5 °C. Germination percentage was not affected by temperature over this range.

Average seed yields and oil content were markedly different in 1976 and 1977; 2·22 t/ha and 44·7% for 1976 and 0·95 t/ha and 36·9% for 1977. Bitumen mulch and sowing depth had no effect on seed yield or oil content but delaying sowing until 5 May reduced both. Lower seed yields in 1977 resulted from fewer and smaller seeds. Infection of the seed heads with grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) after flowering was high in both years.
Effect of cooling on reproductive behaviour in buffaloes (Bos-bubalis)
Authors: Mehta S. N. , Gangwar P. C. , Srivastava R. K. , Dhingra D. P.
Published: March 2009

It has been reported recently (Stott, 1974) that in cattle, reproductive efficiency is increased by keeping the animals under cool climatic conditions. However, in buffaloes very limited information is available. Roy, Sengupta & Misra (1962) have reported that all buffaloes exhibited oestrus and were inseminated in a group protected from direct sun radiation whereas in a non-protected group only one showed oestrus. There is no systematic information available on the effect of wallowing and showers on the oestrual behaviour of buffaloes. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of cooling on oestrual behaviour in buffaloes.
The response of pastures in Northern Ireland to N, P and K fertilizers and to animal slurries: II. Effects of mineral composition
Authors: Adams S. N.
Published: March 2009

Herbage samples from 16 trials testing the effects of N, P and K fertilizers and slurry on grassland were analysed for % N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na. The data were examined to see if a fertilizer policy designed for optimum yield should be modified after taking pasture mineral content into account.

The correct fertilizer nitrogen policy appears to be to apply nitrogen for the desired yield and to disregard any effects on mineral content. The correct fertilizer policy for phosphorus and potassium is to steer a middle course between depleting soil reserves and accumulating undesirable excesses. The quantities of phosphorus and potassium which should be applied to cut grass to maintain the status quo in the soils are discussed. The amount of phosphorus and potassium added in slurry must be allowed for in this calculation. As the amount of slurry available depends upon the farming system, an effective fertilizer policy for phosphorus and potassium can only be devised by studying the farm as a whole.

At the first cut, the slurries provided on average 115 kg NH4-N/ha, 114 kg K/ha and 86 kg P/ha. Slurry potassium was somewhat less than half as effective as fertilizer potassium in increasing % K in the herbage at the first cut. Furthermore, the herbage recovered only 0·8 kg of the 86 kg of slurry phosphorus. In the short term, slurry was only just over 10% as effective as fertilizer phosphorus, presumably because much phosphorus in it is organically bound.
The relationship between in vitro digestible cell wall and the cell-wall content of forage
Authors: Moir K. W.
Published: March 2009

In oven-dried whole plants from three regrowths of four varieties of Panicum maximum, leaf and stem of normal and stunted oats at three stages of first growth, leaf and stem of rape and the whole plant of millet, cell wall ranged from 14 to 77% of the organic matter. In vitro digestible cell wall ranged from 13 to 46% of the organic matter and was closely related to the cell wall (residual standard deviation, ± 2·5). In 16 legume hays the average in vitro digestible cell wall was 22·1% of the forage organic matter compared with an average value of 20·5% found previously from in vivo digestibility experiments with legumes. An unsatisfactory feature of the in vitro digestibility determination was that in silages and low quality grass hays, the digestible cell wall was low relative to known in vivo values for these forage types. The separate determinations of cell wall and in vitro digestible cell wall would add to the confidence that can be placed on estimates of in vivo digestibility from laboratory measurements. Often, the determination of cell-wall content is sufficient for this purpose.
Response of maize to trash burning and nitrogen fertilizer in a newly opened secondary forest
Authors: Iremiren G. O.
Published: March 2009

The growth and yield of maize grown on an unploughed newly opened secondary forest in Nigeria in 1985–87 was studied. In each year, trash was either removed or burnt in situ and each of these treatments was given N fertilizer or none. In the first year, only N fertilizer increased yields. In the second and third years, yields were increased by N fertilizer and by trash burning. Trash burning consistently increased the amount of P in the soil.
Breed differences in water metabolism and body composition of sheep and goats
Authors: Aganga A. A. , Umunna N. N. , Oyedipe E. O. , Okoh P. N.
Published: March 2009

Water metabolism of two breeds of sheep (Uda and Yankasa)and two breeds of goat (Sahel and Maradi) was studied. Tritiated water space as a percentage of live weight was 80·5 and 73·6 % for Uda and Yankasa, respectively, and 77·8 and 66·1 % for Sahel and Maradi, respectively. The biological half-life of tritium was least in Yankasa (115 h) and longest in Sahel (173 h). Water turnover (I/day per animal) was 2·52, 2·63, 0·86 and 1·09 for Uda, Yankasa, Sahel and Maradi, respectively.
Fractional outflow of soyabean meal from the rumen of Chios lambs and Damascus kids
Authors: Hadjipanayiotou M. , Hadjidemetriou D.
Published: March 2009

In earlier studies, results from incubation experiments were combined with measurements of outflow rates of small particles from the rumen to predict the extent of degradation of dietary protein in vivo (Orskov & McDonald 1979). The degradability of a protein supplement was shown to decrease when fractional outflow rate increased (Orskov 1982). In a series of experiments, the factors affecting the fractional rates of outflow of dietary protein supplements from the rumen of sheep and lactating dairy cows were investigated (Agricultural Research Council 1984). In addition, outflow rate of soyabean meal from the rumen of dry and lactating Chios sheep and Damascus goats offered high concentrate diets was determined in recent studies (Hadjipanayiotou et al. 1988). Chromium-treated protein supplements were used to measure their outflow from the rumen using the marker concentration in faeces (Ørskov 1982). This paper reports outflow from the rumen of growing Chios lambs and Damascus kids offered concentrates ad libitum.
Effects of soil moisture and temperature on seedling emergence from natural and pre-germinated onion seeds
Authors: Finch-Savage W. E.
Published: March 2009

The emergence of seedlings from natural, germinating and selected uniformlygerminated onion seeds was compared in a range of changing patterns of soil moisture. The timing, spread and amount of seedling emergence from seeds in all three treatments were affected by the timing of water availability in the seed bed and these effects differed between treatments.

The rate of seedling emergence in all three treatments under non-limiting soil moisture conditions was correlated with mean temperature, but this relationship was obscured in irrigation treatments where water stress occurred. However, if the seed bed was moist at sowing irrespective of subsequent moisture stress the reciprocals of the time to the start, time to 50% and time to the end of seedling emergence from uniformly germinated seeds were correlated with mean temperature (r> 0·87, D.F. 27).

The results show that if the seed bed is irrigated prior to sowing and soil moisture is maintained during the first 3 days following sowing high levels of seedling emergence with both predictable timing and uniformity can be achieved by sowing uniformlygerminated seeds. Seedling emergence from natural and germinating seeds was much less predictable.
Intake and digestibility by sheep of artificially dried forages in several physical forms
Authors: Milne J. A. , Campling R. C.
Published: March 2009

In three experiments high quality, autumn-harvested dried Italian ryegrass and lucerne in the form of cobs and pellets and in one of these experiments in the chopped form were offered to mature castrated male sheep at a maintenance level of feeding. Only small differences were found between the physical forms of forage in digestibility of organic matter, retention of nitrogen and loss of energy in the urine, but the digestibility of crude fibre and the mean retention time of stained feed in the gut decreased with decreasing particle size. Increasing the level of feeding of cobs and of pellets from 800 g daily by three equal increments of 400 g caused a linear decline in digestibility but no difference was found between cobs and pellets in the rate of decline of digestibility. In three experiments the dried forages were offered ad libitum and in a fourth experiment a wide range of particle size was simulated by offering ad libitum five ratios of chopped and pelleted grass. Voluntary intake tended to increase as the particle size was reduced over the whole range, but there was no significant difference between the voluntary intakes of mixtures with a modulus of fineness of 4·4 or less. No difference was detected between the voluntary intake of cobs and pellets.
Pollination of the yellow passionfruit: nectar, pollen and carpenter bees
Authors: Corbet Sarah A. , Willmer P. G.
Published: March 2009

In St Vincent, West Indies, the yellow passionfruit (known as Passiflora edulisf. flavicarpa Degener, but probably specifically distinct from P. edulis Sims) is grown commercially and is pollinated by the indigenous bee Xylocopa mordax Smith. The diel patterns of anthesis and nectar availability are described and related to the timing of bee visits and pollination. Flower-bagging experiments confirmed that the setting of fruit depended on cross-pollination, was prevented by exclusion of flower visitors, and was sometimes limited in the field by inadequate pollination.

Bees collected Passiflora nectar, and evaporated it on their tongues from 45–50 % to 62–63 % sugar before storing it. But the Passiflora pollen deposited on the bee's dorsum was groomed off and rejected; only Gliriddia pollen was used for bee bread. Thus the bees treated ‘acceptable’ (Gliriddia) pollen and ‘unacceptable’ (Passiflora) pollen differently, and since pollen unacceptability improves the pollen's chance of reaching a stigma, it may be a widespread adaptation.

The yellow passionfruit flower shows many features characteristic of tropical Xylocopa flowers. Here, as elsewhere, this introduced crop depends for its pollination on indigenous bees which, though suitable morphologically and behaviourally, are not abundant enough to cause a high proportion of flowers to set fruit. The setting of fruit might be improved by increasing bee populations through provision of more timber for nestsites, and suitable flowers to supply pollen and nectar throughout the year.
Multidimensional stability analysis of gaseous detonations near Chapman–Jouguet conditions for small heat release
Authors: CLAVIN PAUL , WILLIAMS FORMAN A.
Published: March 2009

Multidimensional instability of planar detonations, leading to cellular structures, is studied analytically near Chapman–Jouguet conditions, in the limit of small heat release, with small (Newtonian) differences between heat capacities, by using an expansion in a small parameter representing the ratio of the heat release to the thermal enthalpy of the fresh mixture. In this limit, the dynamics of detonations is governed by the interaction between the acoustic waves and the heat-release rate inside the inner detonation structure, the entropy–vorticity wave playing a negligible role at leading order. This situation is just opposite from that considered in our 1997 study of strongly overdriven detonations. The present analysis offers a step towards improving our understanding of the cellular structures of ordinary detonations, for which both the entropy–vorticity waves and the acoustic waves are involved in the instability mechanism. The relevant bifurcation parameter is identified, involving the degree of overdrive and the sensitivity of the rate of heat release to temperature at the Neumann state, and the onset of the instability is studied analytically for a realistic model of the inner structure of gaseous detonations.
Drag and lift forces on interface-contaminated bubbles spinning in a rotating flow
Authors: RASTELLO MARIE , MARIÉ JEAN-LOUIS , GROSJEAN NATHALIE , LANCE MICHEL
Published: March 2009

The equilibrium position of a spherical air bubble in a solid body rotating flow around a horizontal axis is investigated experimentally. The flow without bubbles is checked to be solid body rotating. The area of influence of the bubble is characterized to determine for each bubble whether the incoming flow is perturbed or not. The demineralized water used is shown to Tbe contaminated, and spinning of the bubble's interface is observed and measured. From the measurement of the bubble's equilibrium position, drag and lift coefficients are determined. They appear to be dependent on two dimensionless numbers. Eo the Eötvös number and Rω the rotational Reynolds number (or Taylor number Ta) can be varied independently by changing the control parameters, and for that reason are the convenient choice for experiments. (Re, Ro) with Ro the Rossby number is an equivalent choice generally adopted in the literature for numerical simulations, and Re denotes the Reynolds number. When using this second representation, the Ro number appears to be an indicator of the influence on the force coefficients of the shear, of the curvature of the streamlines of the flow and of the bubble's spinning. The bubble's spinning effect on the lift force is far from trivial. Its contribution explains the important gap between lift values for a bubble (not spinning) in a clean fluid and for a bubble (spinning) in a contaminated fluid as present.
Small-deformation theory for a surfactant-covered drop in linear flows
Authors: VLAHOVSKA PETIA M. , BŁAWZDZIEWICZ JERZY , LOEWENBERG MICHAEL
Published: March 2009

A small-deformation perturbation analysis is developed to study the effect of surfactant on drop dynamics in viscous flows. The surfactant is assumed to be insoluble in the bulk-phase fluids; the viscosity ratio and surfactant elasticity parameters are arbitrary. Under small-deformation conditions, the drop dynamics are described by a system of ordinary differential equations; the governing equations are given explicitly for the case of axisymmetric and two-dimensional imposed flows. Analytical results accurate to third order in the flow-strength parameter (capillary number) are derived (i) for the stationary drop shape and surfactant distribution in simple shear and axisymmetric straining flows, and (ii) for the rheology of a dilute emulsion in shear flow which include a shear-thinning viscosity and non-zero normal stresses. For drops with clean interfaces, the small-deformation theory presented here improves the results of Barthès-Biesel & Acrivos (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 61, 1973, p. 1). Boundary integral simulations are used to test our theory and explore large-deformation conditions.
Effect of relative humidity on heat transfer across the surface of an evaporating water droplet in air flow
Authors: KUROSE RYOICHI , FUJITA AKITOSHI , KOMORI SATORU
Published: March 2009

A three-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) is applied to flows inside and outside an evaporating spherical water droplet in air, and the effect of relative humidity on the heat transfer between the droplet and ambient air is investigated. The initial air temperature is set to be 15 K higher than the initial droplet temperature. The results show that the local evaporation heat loss indicates the maximum on the front of the droplet and decreases on going from the front to the rear, and the reduction on the rear becomes marked for high-droplet Reynolds numbers. This is because the evaporation rate is suppressed on the rear surface by the presence of flow separations behind the droplet. The droplet temperature decreases in the low-humidity condition, whereas it increases in the high-humidity condition. This difference is caused by the heat balance of evaporation heat loss and convective heat gain from ambient air at the droplet surface.
The role of superhydrophobicity in the adhesion of a floating cylinder
Authors: LEE DUCK-GYU , KIM HO-YOUNG
Published: March 2009

Horizontal cylinders floating on liquid surfaces are mundanely observed, whose examples include the legs of aquatic arthropods and floating larvae, twigs and hairs. We study the force and energy required to lift the cylinder clear from the water surface, to evaluate the role of wettability, especially superhydrophobicity, in the adhesion of floating cylinders. We find that a drastic degree of energy saving is achieved when lifting a superhydrophobic cylinder as compared with a cylinder with moderate wettability. This can serve as a starting point to understand how the superhydrophobicity of the legs of water-walking insects help to propel them efficiently.
Can calcium chemoprevention of adenoma recurrence substitute or serve as an adjunct for colonoscopic surveillance?
Authors: Shaukat Aasma , Parekh Murtaza , Lipscomb Joseph , Ladabaum Uri
Published: March 2009

Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the potential cost-effectiveness of calcium chemoprevention post-polypectomy as a substitute or adjunct for surveillance.

Methods: We constructed a Markov model of post-polypectomy adenoma recurrence and colorectal cancer (CRC) development, calibrated to data from prospective chemoprevention trials of fiber, calcium, antioxidants, and aspirin. We modeled four scenarios for 50-year-old patients immediately after polypectomy: (i) natural history with no further intervention; (ii) elemental calcium 1,200 mg/day from age 50–80; (iii) surveillance colonoscopy from age 50–80 every 5 years, or 3 years for large adenoma; (iv) calcium + surveillance. Patients were followed up until age 100 or death.

Results: Calcium was cost-effective compared to natural history ($49,900/life-year gained). However, surveillance was significantly more effective than calcium (18.729 versus 18.654 life-years/patient; 76 percent versus 14 percent reduction in CRC incidence) at an incremental cost of $15,900/life-year gained. Calcium + surveillance yielded a very small benefit (0.0003 incremental life-years/patient) compared with surveillance alone, at a substantial incremental cost of $3,090,000/life-year gained.

Conclusion: Post-polypectomy calcium chemoprevention is unlikely to be a reasonable substitute for surveillance. It may be cost-effective in patients unwilling or unable to undergo surveillance.
The Beijing Olympics as a Campaign of Mass Distraction
Authors: Brady Anne-Marie
Published: March 2009

From 2006 to 2008 the predominant theme in the Chinese media was preparations for the 2008 Olympics. These preparations were not merely about putting up new sports stadiums; China also underwent a massive public etiquette campaign, aimed at “civilizing” Chinese citizens. This was nominally so they could be good hosts during the Beijing Olympics. The 2006–08 emphasis on Olympic-related news coverage and the ongoing public morals campaign was what I have called a campaign of mass distraction: a propaganda campaign designed to mobilize the population around a common goal, and distract them from more troubling issues such as inflation, unemployment, political corruption and environmental degradation. This article discusses China's Olympics propaganda within the context of the modernization of the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda system – which has included incorporating practices originating in modern democratic states – and considers in what way changes in the propaganda system reflect changes in China's system of political control.
Lightning initiation in the anvils of two supercell storms
Authors: Kuhlman K. M. , MacGorman D. R. , Biggerstaff M. I. , Krehbiel P. R.
Published: March 2009

Previous studies of lightning in anvil clouds have reported that flashes began in or near the storm core and propagated downwind into the anvil. It had been thought that flashes could not be initiated far downwind in the anvil, because anvil charge was thought to be produced mainly in the storm's deep updraft and to decrease with distance into the anvil. Here we report observations of the in‐cloud development of lightning flashes in the anvils of two supercell storms, including the first observations of flashes that began in the anvil 30–100 km from the cores of the storms and propagated upwind back toward the cores. Interaction between charge regions in the two converging anvils of adjoining storms appeared to cause some of the distant flash initiations, but a local charging mechanism in the anvil likely also contributed to the flash initiations. All flashes that struck ground beneath the distant anvil transferred negative charge to ground instead of the positive charge usually transferred to ground there, an apparent consequence of the parent storm having an inverted‐polarity electrical structure.
Trends in solar spectral irradiance variability in the visible and infrared
Authors: Harder Jerald W. , Fontenla Juan M. , Pilewskie Peter , Richard Erik C. , Woods Thomas N.
Published: March 2009

The Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SIM) on‐board the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite provides the first multi‐year continuous measurements of solar spectral irradiance (SSI) variability from 200–2400 nm, accounting for about 97% of the total solar irradiance (TSI). In addition to irradiance modulation from active region passage, the SSI values for wavelengths with a brightness temperature greater than 5770 K show a brightening with decreasing solar activity, whereas those with lower brightness temperatures show a dimming. These results demonstrate that different parts of the solar atmosphere contribute differently to the TSI with the behavior in the deep photospheric layers giving an opposing and nearly compensating trend to that in the upper photospheric and lower chromospheric layers. These findings need to be incorporated into Earth‐climate assessments since the solar forcing induced by these differential trends are inherently different from the relatively flat spectral contributions employed in the IPCC assessments.
Parent and Teacher Report of Social Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Murray Donna S. , Ruble Lisa A. , Willis Heather , Molloy Cynthia A.
Published: March 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement between parent and teacher perceptions of specific social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Method

Informant ratings were generated concerning 45 children with ASD between the ages of 5 and 14 years who were enrolled in social skills groups at 2 Midwestern outpatient autism treatment centers.

Results

Moderate agreement was observed between parents and teachers for the overall social skills rating scores (
r
= 0.34;
p
< 0.05), but there was little agreement on specific social items. Distinct patterns of skill profiles emerged. Parents consistently provided relatively higher ratings on items that pertained to initiating interactions. Teachers, on the other hand, consistently provided higher ratings on items related to responding to and maintaining interactions. Parents and teachers agreed most often on items of affective understanding and perspective taking.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that specific social behaviors may be context dependent, indicating the need for a multi-informant approach to provide a more complete profile of a child’s social abilities, which is necessary for generating a more effective treatment plan.
Anomalous ferromagnetism in TbMnO3 thin films
Authors: Kirby B. J. , Kan D. , Luykx A. , Murakami M. , Kundaliya D. , Takeuchi I.
Published: March 2009

Magnetometry, x-ray, and neutron scattering have been used to study the structural and magnetic properties of a TbMnO3 thin film grown on a [001] SrTiO3 substrate by pulsed laser deposition. Although bulk TbMnO3 is a low temperature antiferromagnet, magnetometry measurements indicate the presence of low temperature ferromagnetism. Depth profiling by x-ray and polarized neutron reflectometry reveals a net sample magnetization that is commensurate with the film thickness, indicating that the observed ferromagnetism is not due to an altered surface phase (such as Mn3O4), or external impurities that might give rise to an artificial magnetic signal. Instead, these results show that the ferromagnetism is an intrinsic property of the TbMnO3 film.
Inhomogeneous magnetization processes in electrodeposited iron thin films on GaAs
Authors: Majumder Sarmita , Arrott Anthony S. , Kavanagh Karen L.
Published: March 2009

Electrodeposited thin films of Fe on GaAs with (100), (110), and (111) orientation are composed of quasisingle crystalline mosaic nanoregions, probably because of defects arising from the coalescence of separately nucleated epitaxial regions. The epitaxy is promoted by the use of an ammonium sulfate electrolyte buffer and a substrate oxide etch in dilute ammonium hydroxide. Samples with these different orientations have been studied using x rays, transmission electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. The observations of magnetic hysteresis with minor loops that extend outside the major loop are among the interesting features of the electrodeposited films. The major hysteresis loops do not correspond to models with uniform rotation plus domain wall motion. The evident uniaxial anisotropy preferring the ⟨100⟩ axes does not explain the results unless it is added inhomogenously into the modeling. For the (11̱0) substrates, the inhomogeneous distribution of uniaxial anisotropy generates patterns of magnetization in which the directions of magnetization pass through the in-plane [111] magnetic hard axis when the field is applied along the intermediate in-plane [110] axis. This suppresses the large hysteresis that would accompany models in which there is uniform rotation of the magnetization through the [111] direction because of the confinement of the magnetization to the plane of the thin films. The results have been fit to analytic models and to micromagnetic simulations. We speculate that the uniaxial anisotropy arises from the regions of coalescence of the islands of nucleation or perhaps from a density of bulk twins.