An enhanced software tool to support better use of manure nutrients: MANNER‐NPK

MANNER‐NPK (MANure Nutrient Evaluation Routine) is a decision support tool for quantifying manure (and other organic material) crop available nutrient supply. The user‐friendly design of an earlier version of MANNER was retained, but in response to user and stakeholder feedback, additional functionality was included to underpin new and revised nitrogen (N) transformation/loss modules (covering ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide/di‐nitrogen emissions, and organic N mineralization) and also to estimate manure phosphorus (as P₂O₅), potassium (as K₂O), sulphur (as SO₃) and magnesium (as MgO) supply. Notably, MANNER‐NPK provides N availability estimates for following crops through the mineralization of organic N. Validation of the crop available N supply estimates was undertaken by comparing predicted values with data from more than 200 field experimental measurements. For cattle, pig and poultry manures, there was good agreement (P < 0.001) between predicted and measured fertilizer N replacement values, indicating that MANNER‐NPK provides robust estimates of manure crop available N supply and N losses to the wider environment.     

Surfaces and other factors modifying the effectiveness of pyrethroids against insects in public health

Features of the evolution of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides are reviewed and related to the target function in control. The factors affecting residual activity are discussed and related to the surfaces to which different formulations are applied. Many insecticide/formulation/surface combinations lose effectiveness rapidly. The consequence of this in relation to the recovery of cockroach populations are discussed using mathematical models and field observations.     

Geographic control of Titan's mid-latitude clouds

Observations of Titan's mid-latitude clouds from the W. M. Keck and Gemini Observatories show that they cluster near 350 degrees W longitude, 40 degrees S latitude. These clouds cannot be explained by a seasonal shift in global circulation and thus presumably reflect a mechanism on Titan such as geysering or cryovolcanism in this region. The rate of volatile release necessary to trigger cloud formation could easily supply enough methane to balance the loss to photolysis in the upper atmosphere.     

Chromatin Configurations in the Ferret Germinal Vesicle that Reflect Developmental Competence for In Vitro Maturation

In several mammalian species, the configuration of germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin correlates with the developmental competence of oocytes. Yet, no study has been published on the configuration of GV chromatin in ferret, nor is it known whether a specific configuration predicts meiotic competence in this species, in spite of the potential importance of ferret cloning to the study of human disease and to species conservation efforts. Here, we report on an analysis of the chromatin configuration in ferret GV oocytes and on how they correlate with meiotic development. Three distinct configurations were identified based on the degree of chromatin condensation: (1) fibrillar chromatin (FC), featuring strands of intertwined chromatin occupying most of the visible GV region; (2) intermediate condensed chromatin (ICC), characterized by dense, irregular chromatin masses throughout the GV; and (3) condensed chromatin (CC), which is highly compact and centered around the nucleolus. We also found that chromatin configuration was related to the extent of association with cumulus cells in cumulus–oocyte complexes; CC-configured oocytes were most often surrounded by a compact cumulus layer and also a compact corona but FC-configured oocytes were associated with neither. In addition, increasing chromatin condensation corresponded to an increase in oocyte diameter. Finally, following in vitro culture, significantly more CC-configured oocytes underwent maturation to meiotic metaphase II than did FC- or ICC-configured oocytes. We conclude that, in ferret, chromatin condensation is related to the sequential achievement of meiotic competencies during oocyte growth and differentiation, and thus can be used as a predictor of competence.     

The Relevance of Species Concepts in Sustainable Forestry

Species concepts and the definition of a species are discussed in the context of sustainable forest management and the sustainability of biological systems in general. Sustainable forestry requires that the habitats created by silvicultural manipulation match the ecological niches of the species being managed, enabling them not only to grow but to reproduce themselves so they can persist on the landscape beyond the current rotation. For this to be possible, foresters must be able to identify species and understand how species are defined.