Volatiles from the 1994 Eruptions of Rabaul: Understanding Large Caldera Systems

The 1994 eruption of Rabaul, in Papua New Guinea, involved a small plinian eruption at Vulcan and a vulcanian eruption on the opposite side of the caldera at Tavurvur. Vulcan's ash leachates indicate seawater interaction that is consistent with earlier observations of low sulfur dioxide emissions and the presence of ice crystals in the initial plinian eruption cloud. In contrast, Tavurvur ash leachates indicate no seawater interaction, and later sulfur dioxide emissions remained high despite low-level eruptive activity. Silicic melt inclusions indicate that the andesitic melt contained about 2 weight percent water and negligible carbon dioxide. Mafic melt inclusions in Tavurvur ash have water and carbon dioxide contents that vary systematically over the course of the eruption. The mafic melt inclusions suggest that a mafic dike intruded from below the silicic chamber and provide further evidence that mafic intrusions drive caldera unrest.     

Role of crop diversification and integrated nutrient management in resilience of soil fertility under rice-wheat cropping system

A field study conducted for two crop cycles of five cropping systems supplied with six nutrient combinations at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi indicated that the cropping systems having a legume increased organic C content over initial level by 0.02?–?0.05%, available N by 3.5?–?14.1?kg ha^???1, whereas the rice-wheat cropping system resulted in a reduction in organic C and available N over initial level by 0.05% and 1.5?kg ha^???1, respectively after 2 years of study. Rice-potato-mungbean cropping system resulted in a negative balance of available P and rice-clover cropping system had a negative balance of both available P and available K content in soil and thus call for adequate P and K fertilization. Application of P and K helped in building up their content in soil; NPK?+?FYM showed the highest increase in organic C, available N, available P and available K content in soil. These results suggest the inclusion of a legume in a cropping system for maintaining organic C and available N in soil and adequate P and K fertilization for arresting the depletion of available P and K content in soil. Integrated nutrient management is one of the best methods for resilience of soil fertility under rice-wheat cropping system.     

The structure of the upper atmosphere of mars: In situ accelerometer measurements from mars global surveyor

The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) z-axis accelerometer has obtained over 200 vertical structures of thermospheric density, temperature, and pressure, ranging from 110 to 170 kilometers, compared to only three previous such vertical structures. In November 1997, a regional dust storm in the Southern Hemisphere triggered an unexpectedly large thermospheric response at mid-northern latitudes, increasing the altitude of thermospheric pressure surfaces there by as much as 8 kilometers and indicating a strong global thermospheric response to a regional dust storm. Throughout the MGS mission, thermospheric density bulges have been detected on opposite sides of the planet near 90 degreesE and 90 degreesW, in the vicinity of maximum terrain heights. This wave 2 pattern may be caused by topographically-forced planetary waves propagating up from the lower atmosphere.     

A Study of Endometritis Causing Repeat Breeding of Cycling Iraqi Buffalo Cows

The objectives of this study were to determine the non‐specific aerobic and anaerobic bacterial causes of endometritis causing repeat breeding of cycling Iraqi buffalo cows at Nineveh province, validate diagnostic criteria for endometritis and to evaluate the treatment efficiency of using systemic or intra‐uterine infusion of antibiotics for the treatment of endometritis. Data were collected from 60 buffalo cows with history of repeat breeding in different herds. All buffaloes were subjected to detailed clinical examination including external inspection, vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation of the cervix, uterus and ovaries. Swabs for bacteriology and biopsies for histopathology were collected from the uterine lumen from each cow. Character, odour and estimation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) of the vaginal mucus were scored. Blood samples were collected from cows for creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) measurement. Treatment conducted using oxytetracycline with tylosin in local intrauterine infusion or systemically with hormonal treatment. The most pre‐disposing factor for uterine infection was retained placenta (13.3%). The most prevalent bacteria in uterine lumen were E. coli (23%), Archanobacterium pyogenes (13%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10%) were mostly isolated from buffaloes with repeat breeding. Vaginal mucus character score was associated with the bacterial growth density score. The difference in PMN was highly significant (p < 0.01) in animals with repeat breeding than control groups. In addition, PMNs was significantly (p < 0.01) correlated r = 0.894 with the character of vaginal discharge. High level of PMNs observed in buffaloes infected with A. pyogenes. Buffalo cows with endometritis had higher CK (321.47 ± 39.06 vs 162.01 ± 16.41 U/l) and AST (133.93 ± 12.43 vs 97.01 ± 6.86 U/l) activities (p < 0.05) than control‐heifers, but no significant difference was observed between buffalo cows with endometritis in CK (321.47 ± 39.06 vs 208.33 ± 5.84) and AST (133.93 ± 12.43 vs 156.17 ± 9.65) activities than control‐pluriparious. It could be concluded that A. pyogenes was the only non‐specific uterine pathogen directly associated with severe endometrial lesions. Vaginoscopy examination combined with palpation of uterus increase the accuracy of diagnosing endometritis and cytogenic examination of uterine discharge is more reliable method of establishing the presence or absence of uterine inflammation in buffalo cows. Animals with repeat breeding (endometritis) showed clinical cure and improved pregnancy in all treatment groups with no significant difference. The use of oestradiol in repeat breeder cases has no effect in improving neither clinical cure rate nor pregnancy rate.     

Influence of Substituting Dietary Soybean for Air‐Classified Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Meal on Egg Production and Steroid Hormones in Early‐Phase Laying Hens

Soybean meal (SBM) is the most widely and expensive protein source used in the formulation of poultry diets; however, when the price of SBM increases, poultry nutritionists seek alternative sources that are more economical in formulating least‐cost rations. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary air‐classified sunflower meal (SFM) on some productive parameters and plasma steroid hormones in laying hens. In this trial, 20‐week‐old laying hens (ISA Brown strain) in the early phase of production were randomly assigned to two groups and fed wheat middlings‐based diets containing soybean (135 g/kg; 48% CP) or air‐classified SFM (160 g/kg; 41% CP) as the main protein source. Laying performance, egg size and feed conversion ratio were evaluated for 10 week. Plasma steroid hormones (progesterone and oestradiol) in the hens were quantified weekly. Substituting SBM with air‐classified SFM did not change (p > 0.05) the hens' growth performance, whereas feed consumption and efficiency were positively influenced (p < 0.05) by SFM treatment. Egg production rate was improved in hens fed the SFM diet (p < 0.05), as well as the percentage of medium‐size eggs that was higher for SFM treatment (p < 0.05). Steroid hormones levels were affected by dietary treatment (p < 0.01). From our findings, it could be effective to include air‐classified SFM in early‐phase laying hen diets as an alternative protein source substituting SBM, without negative influence on productive performance and egg traits, reducing also the production costs.     

Morphology of Reproductive Organs,Semen Quality and Sexual Behaviour of the Male Rabbit Exposed to a Soy‐containing Diet and Soy‐derived Isoflavones during Gestation and Lactation

Placental and breastfeeding transfer of soy isoflavones are potential routes for animal and human exposure to phytoestrogens, and reproductive dysfunctions have been linked to early exposure to these compounds. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perinatal (intrauterine and lactational) exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy‐derived isoflavones on the reproductive parameters of male rabbits. For this purpose, 12 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet (control diet); (2) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; and (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout gestation and lactation. Weight and morphology of the reproductive organs of some of the male offspring were evaluated at weaning (between days 29 and 31). The remaining males were placed on the control diet from weaning to adulthood (gestational and lactational exposure only). Sexual behaviour, semen quality and reproductive organs’ morphology were evaluated after puberty. There were no significant differences in litter size and gestation duration between control and treatment groups. Perinatal exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy isoflavones did not alter testis, epididymides, proprostate and prostate weight and gross morphology. After puberty, sexual behaviour and semen parameters did not differ significantly from the control group. These results indicate that intrauterine and lactational exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy‐derived isoflavones may not adversely affect reproductive development and function of male rabbits.