An Evaluation of Herbicides for Broadleaf-Weed Control in Rapeseed: Efficacy, Phytotoxicity, and Soil Persistence Studies

At the recommended rates (1.0 lb/A for trifluralin, ethalfluralin, EL5261; 0.75 lb/A for dinitramine; 1.2 lb/A for nitrofen), none of the herbicides we evaluated in these studies reduced rapeseed stands, yields, or test weights. However, at higher rates (1. 5, 3.0 lb A), dinitramine reduced rapeseed stands, but this did not result in decreased yields. None of the other herbicides reduced rapeseed stand, yield, or test weights when applied at up to four times the recommended rate. No trifluralin residues were detected in rapeseed whole-plant or seed samples. All of the herbicides provided adequate control of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.). Corn spurry (Spergula arvensis L.) was controlled by trifluralin. ethalfluralin. EL-5261, and nitrofen. All of the herbicides except nitrofen controlled chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo]. In 1979, 51 per cent of the trifluralin applied remained at the end of the growing season in one study while 26 per cent remained in another study. The rate of degradation at three sites in 1979 were as follows (greatest to least); Delta Junction, Matanuska Valley, Fairbanks. Degradation rates of trifluralin were not significantly different in three soil types or at two different application rates. Trifluralin showed no signs of leaching through the soil profile. In 1981, 25 per cent of the trifluralin, 8 per cent of the ethalfluralin, and 24 per cent of the EL-5261 applied remained at the end of the growing season. Despite the relatively long persistence of these preplant, incorporated herbicides, yields and test weights of barley planted in succeeding years were not reduced. A benefit of these persistent residues was control of broadleaf weeds in the succeeding barley crop

The shape of the urine stream — from biophysics to diagnostics

We develop a new computational model of capillary-waves in free-jet flows, and apply this to the problem of urological diagnosis in this first ever study of the biophysics behind the characteristic shape of the urine stream as it exits the urethral meatus. The computational fluid dynamics model is used to determine the shape of a liquid jet issuing from a non-axisymmetric orifice as it deforms under the action of surface tension. The computational results are verified with experimental modelling of the urine stream. We find that the shape of the stream can be used as an indicator of both the flow rate and orifice geometry. We performed volunteer trials which showed these fundamental correlations are also observed in vivo for male healthy volunteers and patients undergoing treatment for low flow rate. For healthy volunteers, self estimation of the flow shape provided an accurate estimation of peak flow rate (+-2%). However for the patients, the relationship between shape and flow rate suggested poor meatal opening during voiding. The results show that self measurement of the shape of the urine stream can be a useful diagnostic tool for medical practitioners since it provides a non-invasive method of measuring urine flow rate and urethral dilation

Response of Fishes to Revetment Placement

Routine fish sampling with hoop nets was conducted monthly from April through December 1978 along natural and revetted riverbanks on the lower Mississippi River near Eudora, Arkansas, to monitor changes in fish populations affected by placement of new revetment for bank protection. Eighteen species of fish were collected with four species comprising over 75% of the total catch. During the months prior to revetment placement, freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens, was the most abundant (32.7% of the catch) species collected. Following in abundance were the flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, (9.8%), common carp, Cyprinus carpio, (7.8%), and blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, (3.3%). After revetment placement in August 1978, the freshwater drum was again the most abundant component, comprising 9.7% of the catch. Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, flathead catfish, and blue catfish followed in abundance and comprised 8.9, 4.1, and 3.4% of the total catch, respectively. Catch per effort data indicated that fish were generally more abundant at natural bank stations than revetted bank stations but the difference was not significant. The study suggests that fish inhabiting natural riverbank habitat recover quite rapidly from bank perturbation caused by the placement of revetment

Aspects of bovine caesarean section associated with calf mortality, dam survival and subsequent fertility.

Bovine caesarean section is a common surgery performed by cattle practitioners yet evidence for justifying many aspects of the surgical procedure is lacking. Between 2001 and 2007, questionnaires were used to gather information on 103 cases of caesarean section performed in one, predominantly dairy, veterinary practice. The results showed that the 14-day cow survival rate was 80.6%, and of those surviving beyond this period, 55.4% carried another calf to term, 27.7% were culled due to infertility and 16.9% were culled due to other reasons. Variables associated with reduced 14-day dam mortality included exteriorising the uterus during surgery (odds ratio [OR] 0.018, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0019-0.17, P<0.001), dystocia where fetomaternal disproportion was present (OR 0.090, 95% CI 0.097-0.83, P=0.033), a female calf (OR 0.036, 95% CI 0.0019-0.69, P=0.027), no retained fetal membranes at the first post-operative revisit (OR 0.095, 95% CI 0.013-0.69, P=0.020) and removing abdominal blood clots during surgery (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.011-0.93, P=0.043). Using a Utrecht suture pattern on the uterus was associated with reduced culling due to infertility (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.020-0.67, P=0.016). Incision infection was noted in 25.9% of cases where incision status was recorded but this was not associated with the type of local anaesthesia used. Overall calf survival up to the first post-operative visit (24-48 h) was 59.4%, and was associated with shorter duration of surgery, and dystocia due to fetomaternal disproportion. These results offer some evidence-based guidelines to optimise outcomes for this common surgery performed under field conditions

Improving single-photon sources via linear optics and photodetection

Published versio

Generating optimal states for a homodyne Bell test

Published versio