SHORT CONTRIBUTION: The latest endangered species in Australia: A tobacco-smoking veterinarian

The results of a tobacco smoking survey conducted among veterinarians in Queensland, Australia, during 2007 are presented. Of the 567 participants only 3% reported being current smokers, 24% were ex-smokers and 73% had never smoked. The prevalence of smoking was similar among males and females, and the highest smoking rate was reported among veterinarians aged 31–40 years. However, the rate of never-smokers was strongly and negatively correlated with age, and the proportion of ex-smokers increased with age. Encouragingly, the results from this study suggest that tobacco use has all but disappeared from the Australian veterinary profession in recent years.     

GONG Observations of Solar Surface Flows

Doppler velocity observations obtained by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) instruments directly measure the nearly steady flows in the solar photosphere. The sun's differential rotation is accurately determined from single observations. The rotation profile with respect to latitude agrees well with previous measures, but it also shows a slight north-south asymmetry. Rotation profiles averaged over 27-day rotations of the sun reveal the torsional oscillation signal-weak, jetlike features, with amplitudes of 5 meters per second, that are associated with the sunspot latitude activity belts. A meridional circulation with a poleward flow of about 20 meters per second is also evident. Several characteristics of the surface flows suggest the presence of large convection cells.     

Predicting and observing el nino

In October 1974 the occurrence of a weak El Ni?o event was predicted for early 1975 on the basis of the southern oscillation index. An expedition was organized to observe the event in the waters off Peru and Ecuador during two cruises in order to study its occurrence and its development with time. During the first cruise a massive transgression of warm low salinity water across the equator to 4 degrees S was observed, as well as a depression of the thermocline along the equator and off the coast of South America, indicating the start of El Ni?o development. During the second cruise the oceanographic situation had changed and conditions were returning to normal.     

新疆南疆籽棉超高产机理研究

为探寻新疆南疆地区籽棉9000 kg·hm-2超高产机理以及相关的指标,对南疆地区生态条件下超高产田、高产田、中高产田进行了调查研究与数据采集。研究发现:要获得超高产,首先要有良好的基础地力,有机质含量超10 g·kg-1,种植密度18×104~21×104株·hm-2为宜;其次,塑造良好株型,株高65~75 cm,茎粗接近10 mm,果枝9~10台,棉铃空间分布均匀,纵向上、中、下果枝棉铃比例3.2∶4.7∶2.1,横向第一、二果节比例7∶3,初花至盛铃LAI、SPAD、Pn一直维持较高水平,盛铃前后达到最大,后期下降缓慢;最后,氮磷钾分配上,前期差异不大,进入花铃期生殖生长明显增强,蕾花铃氮磷钾比例明显增大,一直维持到见絮,超高产处理的蕾花铃干物质量比例明显高于其它处理8%以上,见絮时蕾花铃干物质量达到了6 402 kg·hm-2。以指标数据作参考,塑造良好株型,协调棉铃空间分布,维持较高较长的光合速率,减缓LAI、SPAD下降速度,促进生殖生长,合理养分分配,便能实现产量目标。