Biochemical,physiological and production indices related to fat metabolism in the laying fowl at various stages of physiological development

1. The significance of fat accumulation during physiological development of layers was studied using White Leghorn x Australorp pullets from 12 weeks of age.

2. Liver fat, carcass fat, liver weight and body weight increased markedly at the onset of sexual maturity.

3. Within the liver, the protein to DNA ratio did not alter significantly during development; glycogen was not consistently depleted by egg production.

4. Liver fat content was significantly correlated with carcass fat, liver weight and DNA concentration, and plasma total lipid and cholesterol, independent of stage of development; with body weight, liver protein, moisture, and protein to DNA ratio, excluding the period prior to commencement of sexual maturation; and with plasma phospholipid during lay.

5. Obesity was a feature of faster growing fowls which matured earlier, consumed more, utilised food less efficiently for egg production and produced fewer saleable eggs.     

Measurement of fluctuating magnetic gradients originating from oceanic internal waves

Fluctuating magnetic gradients over oceans come from electric currents flowing in seawater arising from its motions across the earth's magnetic field. Gradients of 0.3 to 0.6 picoteslas per meter for each meter of internal wave displacement have been measured at frequencies of 2 to 5 millihertz with a superconductive magnetic gradiometer supported 7 meters above the surface of water 18 meters deep about 1.5 kilometers offshore from San Diego, California.     

Vapor phase explosions: elementary detonations?

Although liquid-vapor explosions are widely observed, there is no established explanation for their initiation and propagation. Thermodynamics admits the possibility that superheated liquids can support detonations analogous to those that occur in chemical explosives. For liquid methane superheated 50 K above its boiling point at 1 atmosphere, the energy of explosion is 2 to 3 percent of that of TNT.     

Agonistic interactions in developed and undeveloped breeds of chickens

1. Agonistic interactions were observed over a 24‐week period in Rhode Island Red and in Nigerian local fowl aged 32 weeks or 12 weeks at the start of the experiments.

2. Agonistic interactions were both more numerous and more severe (fights and peck avoidances) in groups of the local breed than in those of Rhode Island Reds.

3. The outcome of severe interactions favoured local males and Rhode Island females in the first experiment and Rhode Island males in the second.

4. Small body and comb size might account for the relatively high number of agonistic interactions and the submissiveness of local females and young males while physical strength or some other breed characteristic might account for the high number of agonistic interactions of local males as well as their dominance in breed encounters.