Observations on the use of preplant herbicides in pasture establishment in the wet tropics

Establishment of a Guinea grass/centro mixture was improved by applying herbicides to control broadleaved weeds before sowing. Herbicides tested were 2, 4-D amine, 2, 4-D ethyl ester, 2, 4-D butoxy-ethanol ester, monuron, prometryne, diquat and a diquat/paraquat mixture

Response by some tropical pasture legumes to vernolate

In pot experiments silverleaf desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum), greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum), and glycine (Glycine javanica) tolerated the preplant herbicide vernolate (N-propyl-di-N-propylthiolcarbamate) at rates up to 4 lb a.i./ac. Siratro (Phaseolus atropurpureus) and Dolichos axillaris were less tolerant

Effect of some phenoxy herbicides on Vigna marina and Glycine javanica

2, 4-D amine had more severe effects on both species than 2, 4-D ethyl ester, 2,4,DB or MCPB

Effect of 2, 4, 5-T preplant soil spraying on the establishment of Stylosanthes gracilis

The use of 2,4,5-T as a post-emergence "blanket" spray to control timber regrowth during the establishment of improved grass/legume pastures in the wet tropics is regarded as unsatisfactory on account of the high probability of severe herbicide damage to young pasture legume plants

Dye tests on a Chesterford logarithmic dosage sprayer

Tests on a Chesterford Mark IV logarithmic dosage sprayer, comparing different proportions of the same chemical in the concentrate and diluent vessels, showed that dosage at 5 yd along the plot was independent of the concentration of chemical in the diluent solution

Breaking up prolonged sitting time with walking does not affect appetite or gut hormone concentrations but does induce an energy deficit and suppresses postprandial glycaemia in sedentary adults

Breaking up periods of prolonged sitting can negate harmful metabolic effects but the influence on appetite and gut hormones is not understood and is investigated in this study. Thirteen sedentary (7 female) participants undertook three 5-h trials in random order: (i) uninterrupted sitting (SIT), (ii) seated with 2-min bouts of light-intensity walking every 20 min (SIT + LA), and (iii) seated with 2-min bouts of moderate-intensity walking every 20 min (SIT + MA). A standardised test drink was provided at the start of each trial and an ad libitum pasta test meal provided at the end of each trial. Subjective appetite ratings and plasma acylated ghrelin, peptide YY, insulin, and glucose were measured at regular intervals. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each variable. AUC values for appetite and gut hormone concentrations were unaffected in the activity breaks conditions compared with uninterrupted sitting (linear mixed modelling: p > 0.05). Glucose AUC was lower in SIT + MA than in SIT + LA (p = 0.004) and SIT (p = 0.055). There was no difference in absolute ad libitum energy intake between conditions (p > 0.05); however, relative energy intake was lower in SIT + LA (39%; p = 0.011) and SIT + MA (120%; p < 0.001) than in SIT. In conclusion, breaking up prolonged sitting does not alter appetite and gut hormone responses to a meal over a 5-h period. Increased energy expenditure from activity breaks could promote an energy deficit that is not compensated for in a subsequent meal

CDMS, Supersymmetry and Extra Dimensions

The CDMS experiment aims to directly detect massive, cold dark matter particles originating from the Milky Way halo. Charge and lattice excitations are detected after a particle scatters in a Ge or Si crystal kept at ~30 mK, allowing to separate nuclear recoils from the dominating electromagnetic background. The operation of 12 detectors in the Soudan mine for 75 live days in 2004 delivered no evidence for a signal, yielding stringent limits on dark matter candidates from supersymmetry and universal extra dimensions. Thirty Ge and Si detectors are presently installed in the Soudan cryostat, and operating at base temperature. The run scheduled to start in 2006 is expected to yield a one order of magnitude increase in dark matter sensitivity.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of the 7th UCLA symposium on sources and detection of dark matter and dark energy in the universe, Marina del Rey, Feb 22-24, 200

The value of nonlinear control theory in investigating the underlying dynamics and resilience of a grocery supply chain

In an empirical context, a method to use nonlinear control theory in the dynamic analysis of supply chain resilience is developed and tested. The method utilises block diagram development, transfer function formulation, describing function representation of nonlinearities and simulation. Using both ‘shock’ or step response and ‘filter’ or frequency response lenses, a system dynamics model is created to analyse the resilience performance of a distribution centre replenishment system at a large grocery retailer. Potential risks for the retailer’s resilience performance include the possibility of a mismatch between supply and demand, as well as serving the store inefficiently and causing on-shelf stock-outs. Thus, resilience is determined by investigating the dynamic behaviour of stock and shipment responses. The method allows insights into the nonlinear system control structures that would not be evident using simulation alone, including a better understanding of the influence of control parameters on dynamic behaviour, the identification of inventory offsets potentially leading to ‘drift’, the impact of nonlinearities on supply chain performance and the minimisation of simulation experiments