bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Repeatability of Milk Yield and Birth Weights of Goats in Malaya
Authors: Mahmud Anuwar Bin , Devendra C. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYRepeatability estimates of milk yield and length of lactation of local, ½ Anglo-Nubian × local and ¾ Anglo-Nubian × local cross-bred goats were calculated. There were highly significant differences in the effect of dams on milk yields for the third, fourth and fifth lactations for local goats, when considered together. No significant differences were found for the first two lactations. For the ½ Anglo-Nubian cross-bred goats significant differences were also found for the first and second lactations, but not for the third lactation. No significant differences were found for the two lactations in the case of the ¾ Anglo-Nubian cross-bred goats. The effect of lactation periods were not significant for the three types of goats. The mean repeatability estimates for local goats were 0·47, 0·42 for ½ Anglo-Nubian and 0·54 for ¾ Anglo-Nubian cross-bred goats, which were comparable to those reported for cattle. The between-dam effect was highly significant when three lengths of lactations were combined in local goats, and the interval between lactations were also significant, but these two effects were not significant for the ½ Anglo-Nubian and ¾ Anglo-Nubian cross-bred goats. The estimates of repeatability for length of lactation averaged 0·29 for local goats, 0·17 for ½ Anglo-Nubian and 0·53 for ¾ Anglo-Nubian cross-bred goats. The correlation coefficients between milk yield and length of lactation were positive and statistically significant for all the three types of goats, ranging from 0·59 to 0·93. The similarity of the genetics of goats to those of cattle and sheep is mentioned.
Effect of Depth of Tillage on Yield of Upland Paddy and on Associated Weeds
Authors: Pande H. K. , Bhan V. M. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYFour depth of tillage treatments were given by ploughing to 7 cm. depth by bullock-drawn plough and 14, 21 and 28 cm. depth with a tractor-drawn mouldboard plough in 1962–63. A significant decrease in bulk density was observed with the 21 and 28 cm. ploughing, negatively correlated with dry matter of crop roots and yield of grain. The effectiveness of 28 cm. tillage in reducing the population and dry matter of weeds was significant when compared to tillage at 7 and 14 cm. and there were significant relations between dry matter of weeds and yield of grain. Crop roots under tractor tillage were significantly greater than with 7 cm. tillage. Grain yield was maximum under 28 cm. tillage followed by 21, 14 and 7 cm. deep tillage in that order. The higher grain yields were associated with a greater number of fertile tillers per metre of row and higher yields per tiller.
ADOPTION DYNAMICS OF TITHONIA DIVERSIFOLIA FOR SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT IN PILOT VILLAGES OF WESTERN KENYA
Authors: KIPTOT EVELYNE 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYThis paper presents the results of a study that was undertaken to assess adoption dynamics of Tithonia diversifolia in Siaya and Vihiga districts of western Kenya from 1997 to 2004. The study was undertaken among a random sample of 120 farmers from eight pilot villages exposed to the technology. Descriptive statistics and a logit regression model were used to analyse data. The findings show that more farmers in pilot villages of Siaya are taking up the use of Tithonia than in Vihiga. As of 2004, 52% of farmers in Siaya were adopters compared to only 8% in Vihiga. Results of the logit regression model show that the use of Tithonia biomass for soil fertility management (SFM) is more likely to be adopted in a context where there is a scarcity of animal manure, farmers are willing to plant it on farms and hire casual labour. The use of Tithonia by smallholder farmers for SFM is therefore a promising low-cost option that can be scaled up to areas where farmers face similar constraints.
NEMATODE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE UNDER COMPOST AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, IN THE NORTH CHINA PLAIN
Authors: HU CHENG , CAO ZHI-PING 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYA long-term field experiment was conducted at the Qu-Zhou experimental station, China Agricultural University to study how the nematode community structure was influenced by compost and chemical fertilizer, using no amendment as the control. Soil samples were collected from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths. The different treatments led to a significant difference in the total number of nematodes, bacterivores, plant parasites, omnivores-predators and nematode richness. The total number of nematodes, bacterivores, omnivores-predators and nematode richness were found to decrease in chemical fertilizer-treated plots. Although plant parasites were more abundant under compost treatment than under chemical fertilization, the relative abundance of plant parasites in the compost-treated plots was smaller. The application of chemical fertilizer decreased the number of genera of bacterivores and omnivores-predators. The numbers of total nematodes, bacterivores, plant parasites and omnivores-predators were significantly positively correlated with the contents of total organic carbon, total N, alkali-hydrolysable N, available P and available K. The compost-treated plots tended to have a greater diversity of nematodes than chemical fertilizer treated plots, so there was a healthy soil ecosystem under compost treatment.
COMPETITIVE ABILITY OF WINTER CEREAL–COMMON VETCH INTERCROPS AGAINST STERILE OAT
Authors: VASILAKOGLOU I. , DHIMA K. , LITHOURGIDIS A. , ELEFTHEROHORINOS I. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYIntercropping cereals with legumes for forage or food production is extensively used as a cropping practice in many parts of the world. A 2-year field study was conducted using common vetch (Vicia sativa), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), triticale (× Triticosecale), barley (Hordeum vulgare) and oat (Avena sativa) sole crops as well as common vetch intercrops with each of these cereals in a 35:65 cereal:common vetch ratio based on seed numbers, to determine their ability to compete with sterile oat (Avena sterilis spp. sterilis). At nine weeks after planting, fewer sterile oat plants emerged in common vetch sole crop than in cereal sole crops. Intercropping of cereals with common vetch generally did not affect sterile oat stem number and biomass compared with cereal sole crops. At harvest, cereal sole crops provided greater total dry biomass (DB) than the common vetch sole crop. However, triticale and oat produced more DB than winter wheat and barley. In most cases intercropping reduced total DB compared with cereal sole crops. The results of this study indicated that intercropping of the four winter cereals with common vetch did not provide any significant competitive advantage against sterile oat. However, common vetch sole crop showed the greatest suppressive ability against sterile oat among the sole crops or intercrops studied.
INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT OF PEARL MILLET IN THE SAHEL COMBINING CATTLE MANURE, CROP RESIDUE AND MINERAL FERTILIZER
Authors: AKPONIKPE PIERRE B. I. , MICHELS KARLHEINZ , BIELDERS CHARLES L. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYIn the Sahelian zone of Niger, there is a need to develop guidelines for integrated nutrient management, which relies on the potential nutrient sources of manure, pearl millet residue and mineral fertilizers. A fully factorial on-station experiment was conducted during the 1994 and 1995 rainy seasons at Sadoré, Niger, combining application of: (i) broadcast millet residue (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha−1), (ii) broadcast cattle manure (300, 900 and 2700 kg ha−1) and (iii) mineral fertilizer (unfertilized control, 15 kg N ha−1 + 4.4 kg P ha−1 and 45 kg N ha−1 + 13.1 kg P ha−1). Manure and fertilizer increased millet yields in both years whereas residue was effective in 1995 only. The effect of manure and residue were additive, as was the effect of manure and fertilizer but only up to 50 kg N ha−1. However in 1995, the response to fertilizer was approximately doubled in the presence of 900 or 2700 kg residue ha−1 compared to fertilizer with 300 kg ha−1 residue, indicating a strong synergistic effect. This synergistic effect was reflected in the partial factor productivity of nitrogen and phosphorous in both years. Two treatment combinations stand out as particularly relevant based on yield, partial factor productivity and nutrient balance criteria: 2700 kg manure ha−1 combined with (i) 300 kg residue and no fertilizer (95% grain yield increase); (ii) 900 kg residue ha−1 and 15 kg N + 4 kg P ha−1 (132% grain yield increase). There is a need for similar, long-term experiments to confirm the present results.
MODELLING CROP–LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS FOR ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY AND INCREASING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES IN THE ETHIOPIAN HIGHLANDS
Authors: AMEDE TILAHUN , DELVE ROBERT J. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYAn action research process was conducted with communities in Gununo, southern Ethiopia (2000–2003), to develop alternative cropping strategies for achieving their food security and cash needs. Farmers identified three major production objectives depending on their household priorities and socio-economic status. In Group I, farmers are currently food insecure and want to produce enough food from their own farms. In Group II, they produce enough food but want to fulfil their financial needs. In Group III, farmers rely on off-farm activities and want to increase cash income. The current system mostly fulfils the nutritional requirement of Group II. Groups I and III were highly food deficit from their own farms, with production covering less than seven months per year and fulfilling <50% of the recommended daily allowances (RDA) for human nutrition. Using a linear programming optimization model, it was possible to fulfil the RDA of Group I by reallocating the cropping area of maize, sweet potato, coffee and wheat to potato, enset and kale in proportions of 50, 29 and 15%, respectively. To satisfy both financial and nutritional needs of Group II, an increase in the proportion of coffee and beans by about 29 and 7.3%, respectively, over the current land allocation was needed. This shift would triple their cash income. The cash income of Group III increased four-fold by full replacement of the cereals and root crops by coffee (48%) and teff (52%), though the total income was not enough to secure food security due to their small landholdings. In farms of Groups I and II, the shift to the suggested cropping will reduce soil erosion by about 40%, while it will have no effect on farms of Group III. This shift will reduce the quantity and quality of livestock feed, except for Group I. Moreover, it will increase the farm crop water requirement 17.5 and 37% in Groups I and III (resource poor households) and reduce it in resource rich households of Group II. These changes did not imply extra labour in any groups. Whilst this model can optimize systems for food security and cash income, its research for development value is in identifying possible intensification strategies for farming systems and their implications on the farming systems, rather than generating practical recommendations for all cropping systems.
EFFECTS OF GRAFTING ON TEA 2. DROUGHT TOLERANCE
Authors: TUWEI G. , KAPTICH F. K. K. , LANGAT M. C. , SMITH B. G. , CORLEY R. H. V. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYThe drought tolerance of tea clones in Kenya can be improved by grafting onto appropriate rootstocks, with more susceptible clones showing greater improvement. It appears that drought may have distinct effects on rootstock and scion, with rootstock performance correlated with xylem water potential, while scion performance was correlated with stomatal conductance. Drought tolerance is not the only requirement for a rootstock under Kenyan conditions, however, and the most tolerant rootstocks do not necessarily give the greatest overall yield increase when non-drought years are included.
Rates of microfilarial production by Onchocerca volvulus are not cumulatively reduced by multiple ivermectin treatments
Authors: BOTTOMLEY CHRISTIAN , ISHAM VALERIE , COLLINS RICHARD C. , BASÁÑEZ MARIA-GLORIA 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYRegular distribution of ivermectin reduces onchocerciasis transmission and morbidity by killing, within humans, the microfilarial stage of the parasite (microfilaricidal effect). In addition, ivermectin exerts a so-called embryostatic effect by which microfilarial production by the adult female worm becomes suppressed during a number of weeks after treatment. To assess the overall effect of ivermectin on onchocerciasis transmission and evaluate the likelihood of local elimination of the infection it is important to estimate the magnitude of the anti-fertility effect over the course of a treatment programme. Estimates of the effect of repeated drug treatments on the production of microfilariae by adult Onchocerca volvulus were obtained by developing a model that was fitted to data collected from three hyperendemic communities in Guatemala, where eligible residents received ivermectin twice per year for two and a half years. The data consist of microfilarial load measurements in the skin, collected just before each six-monthly treatment during the programme. The model that is developed describes the dynamics of an individual host's expected microfilarial load over the 30-month study period. We adopt a Bayesian approach and use Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) techniques to fit the model to the data. Combining estimates from the three villages, average microfilarial production in the first six months post-treatment was reduced by ~64% of its pre-treatment level, regardless of values chosen for the pre-ivermectin fertility rate within plausible ranges. Increased adult worm death rate after treatment (to mimic removal of macrofilariae via nodulectomy during the programme) resulted in a smaller estimated magnitude of the embryostatic effect (rate of microfilarial production was reduced by ~58% of pre-ivermectin value). After subsequent treatments, the rate of microfilarial production appeared to be similarly decreased. The data and analyses therefore do not support the hypothesis of a cumulative effect of multiple ivermectin treatments on microfilarial production by female worms.
Lung elastic fibres from embryonic to adult birds
Authors: Honório Ana , Pinto Maria de Lurdes , Gonçalves Carlos , Bairos Vasco 
Published: October 2008

In mammals it is well known the role of the elastic fibres in the lung development and its fundamental importance in the process of distending and recoil of the organ as a whole. The bird's lungs are compact and virtually non-expansible.After morphological studies on elastic fibres distribution and quantification by image analysis we carried out a study on biochemical methods to quantify elastin in the avian lung, using domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) as an experimental model. We made use of two analytical methods for the elastin determination in these animal lungs from the 14th day of hatching until the 42nd day after hatchling.
Organic molecules in the spectral line survey of Orion KL with the Odin Satellite from 486–492 GHz and 541–577 GHz
Authors: Koning N. , Kwok S. , Bernath P. , Hjalmarson Å. , Olofsson H. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA spectral line survey of Orion KL has been performed over the frequency range of 486–492 GHz and 541–577 GHz using the Odin satellite. Over 1000 lines have been identified from 40 different molecular species, including several organic compounds such as methyl cyanide (CH3CN), methanol (CH3OH, 13CH3OH), and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3).
The origin and evolution of interstellar organics
Authors: Chiar Jean E. , Pendleton Yvonne J. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractOver the last decade, we have made great strides in better understanding dust composition and evolution in dense clouds and the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM). Thanks to improvements in IR detector sensitivity on ground-based telescopes and the Spitzer Space Telescope mission, we are no longer limited to a handful of bright background stars in order to study dust composition in quiescent dense clouds and the diffuse ISM. More thorough sampling of lines of sight in these regions has highlighted the dichotomy of the nature and composition of dust in these environments. In addition, successes in recreating interstellar processes and dust-analogs in the laboratory have helped us to understand the differences in dust absorption features we observe in the ISM. In this article, we focus on the organic components of interstellar dust, reviewing past work and highlighting the most recent observations and laboratory experiments.
Dicarbon molecule in the interstellar clouds
Authors: Kaźmierczak Maja , Schmidt Mirosław , Krełowski Jacek 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe present high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectroscopic observations of interstellar molecular lines of C2 towards early-type stars. C2 is particularly interesting because it is the simplest multicarbon molecule and its abundances give information on the chemistry of interstellar clouds, especially on the pathway of formation of (hydro)carbon chains and PAHs which may be considered as possible carriers of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). Homonuclear diatomic molecules have negligible dipol moments and hence radiative cooling of excited rotational levels may go only trough the slow quadrupole transitions (van Dishoeck & Black 1982). In C2, pumped by galactic average interstellar field rotational levels are excited effectively much above the gas kinetic temperature and a rotational ladder of electronic transitions is usually observed from high rotational levels. Relations between abundances of the dicarbon and other simple interstellar molecules are considered as well.
Organic compounds as carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands
Authors: Sarre Peter J. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe diffuse interstellar bands appear as absorption features in spectra of reddened stars and lie mostly in the visible region of the spectrum. The first examples were recorded photographically nearly one hundred years ago and despite a huge amount of observational, theoretical and laboratory effort the spectra remain unassigned. Most researchers believe that organic material is responsible for the absorptions, the most popular form being polycyclic aromatic (hydro)carbon (PAH) structures. This article reviews briefly the main characteristics of the spectrum, describes some current research and outlines some lines of inquiry.
Observing ultraviolet signatures of interstellar organics with theHubble Space Telescope
Authors: Snow Theodore P. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTheCosmic Origins Spectrograph(COS) will be more sensitive for ultraviolet spectroscopy than either theGHRSor theSTIS, especially in the far UV where many absorption lines and bands formed by atoms and molecules have electronic transitions from the ground state. Here we outline our plans for using theCOSto observe interstellar gas and dust in the cold ISM, along with a report on the results of preliminary archivalHSTsearch for UV diffuse interstellar bands.
A study of 2175 Å absorption feature with TAUVEX: An Indo-Israeli UV mission
Authors: Muthumariappan C. , Maheswar G. , Eswaraiah C. , Pandey A. K. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTAUVEX is an Indo-Israeli collaborative mission to make photometric observations in the UV region. Using the narrowband filters positioned near 2175 Å feature, we plan to construct the UV bump in the extinction curve towards B type stars brighter than mv = 14. Archival data of TD1, Galex missions are used for stars brighter than mv = 10. We sample the distance to obtain the extintion at different location of the local ISM upto 2 kpc. Using a dust model having silicate, graphite and PAH as components, the extinction curve at different location of the Galaxy is fitted to constrain the dust characteristics.
Dehydrogenated coronene cations and interstellar extinction
Authors: Malloci G. , Mulas G. , Cecchi–Pestellini C. , Useli–Bacchitta F. , Bonnamy A. , Joblin C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDehydrogenated coronene molecules have been proposed as the carrier of the interstellar UV extinction bump and of some diffuse interstellar bands. To test this hypothesis, we have undertaken a combined a) theoretical and b) experimental work on the subject. a) We use the (time–dependent) density functional theory to study the effect of hydrogenation on the UV absorption cross–section of neutral and ionised coronene molecules. b) For the visible and near–UV, these calculations provide useful guidelines to analyse and interpret the electronic spectra obtained with the PIRENEA experimental set-up dedicated to astrochemistry.
Composite interstellar grains and the 2175Å feature
Authors: Vaidya Deepak B. , Gupta Ranjan 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe use discrete dipole approximation (DDA) to study the scattering properties of composite grains made up of host silicate spheroids and graphite inclusions. We calculate the extinction cross sections of the composite grains in the wavelength region 0.20–0.55 μm and study the extinction of the composite grains as a function of graphite inclusions. We present the composite grain model and discuss the results.
Models and observations of deuterated molecules in protostellar cores
Authors: Roberts H. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMeasuring the deuterium fractionation in different molecules can allow one to determine the physical conditions in the gas and to differentiate between gas-phase and grain surface chemical processing. Observations of molecular D/H ratios in different species towards the dense gas surrounding low-mass protostars are presented and are compared with model simulations. These consider gas-phase chemistry, accretion and desorption, and reactions on grain surfaces during the initial stages of core collapse.
Complex chemistry in star-forming regions
Authors: Garrod Robin T. , Widicus Weaver Susanna L. , Herbst Eric 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe present a new gas-grain chemical model that allows the grain-surface formation of saturated, complex, organic species from their constituent functional-groups–basic building blocks that derive from the cosmic ray-induced photodissociation of the granular ice mantles. The surface mobility of the funtional-group radicals is crucial to the reactions, and much of the formation of complex molecules occurs at the intermediate temperatures (~20–40 K) attained during the warm-up of the hot core. Our model traces the evolution of a large range of detected, and as yet un-detected, complex molecules.
Molecular gas dynamics in the Rosette Nebula
Authors: Matthews Henry E. , Dent William R. F. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe present observations of the Rosette Nebula and its near environment in the CO 3–2 transition obtained with an angular resolution of 20″. The gas dynamics of the region are complex; we find (1) a ring of gas expanding at about 20 km s−1, (2) a number of collimated outflow sources, and (3) a chain of dust clumps having a velocity gradient along its length.