Welfare and environmental benefits of integrating commercially viable free-range broiler chickens into newly planted woodland: A UK case study

The commercial, welfare and environmental impacts of rearing small colonies of free-range chickens in newly planted woodland at two sites in the UK, during the first 2 years of the enterprise, were investigated. Newly planted rather than established trees were used so that commercially viable species could be planted in a way that would suit the management of the chicken enterprise, and small colonies were used so that farmers wishing to diversify could buy into the system progressively. It was anticipated that marketing a high specification product would provide an immediate income, whilst waiting for the future investment in trees to grow.     

Effects of pico-tesla electromagnetic field treatment on wound healing in rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a pico-tesla electromagnetic field (PTEF) on healing of sutured and open skin wounds and clinicopathologic variables in rats. ANIMALS: 64 male Fischer-344 rats. PROCEDURE: An incision made in the dorsal aspect of the neck was sutured (n = 32) or left open to heal (32). In each group, 16 rats were not PTEF-treated (controls). Wound treatment consisted of exposure to a PTEF once daily. Rats in each group were euthanatized at days 2, 4, 7, and 14. Wounds were evaluated via tensiometry (sutured wounds), digital planimetry (open wounds), laser Doppler perfusion imaging, bacteriologic culture, and histologic examination. Blood samples were collected from all rats for analysis. RESULTS: At day 14, sutured wounds in PTEF-treated rats were stronger (ultimate stress) and tougher (strain energy) than were sutured wounds in control rats. Open wounds in PTEF-treated rats contracted more quickly at days 2 and 4 than did those in control rats. Compared with control wounds, histologic changes (indicative of improved healing) in sutured and open wounds in PTEF-treated rats were detected as early as day 4. Laser Doppler perfusion measurements, results of CBCs, serum biochemical analyses, and bacteriologic cultures were not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Exposure to the PTEF caused no adverse effects on clinicopathologic, histologic, or bacteriologic variables tested in this study. It appears that PTEF is a safe form of adjuvant treatment for wounds and improves strength of sutured wounds and speeds contraction of open wounds.     

Beschädigungen in einer Wohnung durch Wespen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Snowfall-driven growth in East Antarctic ice sheet mitigates recent sea-level rise

Satellite radar altimetry measurements indicate that the East Antarctic ice-sheet interior north of 81.6 degrees S increased in mass by 45 +/- 7 billion metric tons per year from 1992 to 2003. Comparisons with contemporaneous meteorological model snowfall estimates suggest that the gain in mass was associated with increased precipitation. A gain of this magnitude is enough to slow sea-level rise by 0.12 +/- 0.02 millimeters per year.     

Catastrophic drought in the Afro-Asian monsoon region during Heinrich event 1

Between 15,000 and 18,000 years ago, large amounts of ice and meltwater entered the North Atlantic during Heinrich stadial 1. This caused substantial regional cooling, but major climatic impacts also occurred in the tropics. Here, we demonstrate that the height of this stadial, about 16,000 to 17,000 years ago (Heinrich event 1), coincided with one of the most extreme and widespread megadroughts of the past 50,000 years or more in the Afro-Asian monsoon region, with potentially serious consequences for Paleolithic cultures. Late Quaternary tropical drying commonly is attributed to southward drift of the intertropical convergence zone, but the broad geographic range of the Heinrich event 1 megadrought suggests that severe, systemic weakening of Afro-Asian rainfall systems also occurred, probably in response to sea surface cooling.     

Estimated nitrogen use efficiency,surplus, and partitioning in young apple trees grown in varied organic production systems

A certified organic apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) orchard was established to study the interaction of ground cover management systems (GMS) and nutrient sources (NS) on nitrogen (N) use efficiency and N surplus in the Southern U.S. for three years. Trees treated with green compost (GC) and wood chips (WC), regardless of the NS, had greater N accumulation and leaf N use efficiency compared to the shredded paper or mow-and-blow treated trees. The WC-treated trees had comparably low N surplus relative to the GC trees that induced more [NO₃⁻] in soil or soil solution in the rooting zone in September in year 3. GC trees had the highest [NO₃⁻] mineralization in the soil during winter. GMS had greater overall effects on the tree response variables than did the NS.     

Zero Point of Charge Determination of Monoionic Montmorillonites by Transport Number Method

The zero points of charge (ZPC) of a natural bentonite and those of its homoionic forms (Na, Ca and Al) were determined by the transport number method. The influence of the interlayer cation was observed in the different pH values of the ZPC obtained. No influence of the water contains was observed.