Cold hardening and dehardening in Salix

The variation in cold hardiness in Salix in the autumn was investigated using clones of different geographic origins. In late growing season, the variation was small and inversely related to a phenotypic variation in potential growth rate. When growth had stopped in response to the reduction in daylength, however, large differences in cold hardiness developed. Northern/continental clones started cold hardening up to two months earlier and showed up to three times higher inherent rates of cold hardening than the southern/maritime ones. The two components of cold hardening, the timing of onset and the inherent rate, seemed to be separately inherited traits, as judged from analyses of the prodigy of a crossing between an early-and-rapidly hardening clone and a late-and-slowly hardening one. This suggests that cold hardiness can be improved without adversely affecting growth by selecting for a late onset of cold hardening combined with a rapid rate. Also, in the early stages, cold hardening was more sensitive to low, non-freezing temperatures in the southern/maritime clones than in the northern/continental ones. Cold hardening of stems in the autumn could be monitored from the accumulation of sugars, most predominantly sucrose, raffinose and stachyose. The accumulation of sucrose started already with the cessation of growth, whilst the accumulation of raffinose and stachyose started later and was stimulated by cool temperatures. Multivariate models using sugar data could explain 76% of the variation in cold hardiness in the early stages of hardening. Changes in levels of sugars and other compounds during cold hardening could be assessed non-intrusively from the visible and infrared reflectance spectra of stems. Multivariate models using spectral data could predict up to 96% of the variation in cold hardiness. This technique is expected to greatly facilitate breeding for improved cold hardiness by allowing rapid screening of large populations. The variation in cold hardiness in spring was also investigated. Loss of cold hardiness in spring was closely related to the bursting of buds. A relatively large genetic variation in the temperature requirement for bud burst was demonstrated indicating that this might be modified in sensitive clones to improve their cold hardiness in spring

Conversion to organic field vegetable production OF0126T

Despite a high and growing demand for organic vegetable UK growers have been slow to convert to organic production. One of the reasons has been the lack of data and information relating to the conversion period. This roject aims to rectify this by collecting and evaluating agronomic and econmic data from farms undergoing conversion to organic fiel vegetable production. A total of eleven farms are being monitored; one main site (Hunts Mill at HRI Wellesbourne) and 10 commercial reference farms. The results of these studies are being made available for farmers undergoing or considering conversion. The project if of direct relevance toDEFRA's objectives of encouraging organic production, of substituting imports, protecting the environment and providing a firm scientific base for policy decisions. The main conclusions from the first phase of the project (1996-2000) were that most farmers have managed the initial stages of their conversions to organic vegetable production satisfactorily. Growers' anticipated problems with pest, disease and weeds were found to be less serious than they had expected. Difficulties with soil management, however, have been on established organic farms, though the lower yields have often been offset by significant price premiums which have made overall financial returns competetive with comparable conventional crops. Many of the farmers have experienced a decline in Net Farm Income during the in-conversion period. The decline in income has been partly offset when there is the ability to claim organic aid and set aside payments on fertility building leys. Growers require a number of positive messages from policy makers and from the market to encourage them to make the decision to convert to organic production

Some aspects of double layer formation in a plasma constrained by a magnetic mirror

The shift from wave-generated anomalous resistivity toward the more large-scale effects of magnetic confinement of current carrying plasmas was inspired by the more extensive data on auroral particle distribution functions that were made available, data that may often seem consistent with a dissipation-free acceleration of auroral electrons over an extended altitude range. Efforts to interpret these data have brought new vigor to the concept that a smooth and static electric field can be self-consistently generated by suitable pitch angle anisotropies among the high altitude particle populations, different for electrons and ions, and that such an electric field is both necessary and sufficient to maintain the plasma in a quasi-neutral steady state. Certain aspects of this concept are reviewed and criticized, both from a general theoretical standpoint and from the standpoint of what is known about the magnetospheric environment. It is argued that this concept has flaws and that the actual physical problem is considerably more complicated, requiring a more complex electric field, possibly including double layer structures

Economics of organic fruit production (OF0151)

This is the final report of Defra project OF0151 Despite a very strong consumer demand for organic fruit, it is the least developed sector of the UK organic industry. The main constraint to growth in supply is the lack of organic fruit growers, especially those on a large enough scale to supply the wholesale, multiple and processing markets. The UK Organic Fruit Focus Group was set up in 1997 as a producer initiative to develop the market and production of UK organic fruit. At the first meeting of the group it was concluded that a) the absence of written technical information on how to grow organic fruit b) the lack of experienced advisors c) the lack of fruit and d) a lack of information on the economics of organic fruit were major barriers to grower confidence and hence expanding production. In June 1998 HDRA began a one year study into the Economics of Organic Fruit Production. The study aims to provide information on: • the size of the organic fruit market and potential for future growth • returns and costs of growing organic top and soft fruit Information for this study has been obtained through contact and visits to marketing organisations, fruit processors and growers. For information on the market major buyers of organic fruit have been contacted to ascertain quantities bought and market trends. In consultation with the ADAS Fruit Team and the Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, data collection forms were devised to enable full costing techniques (all costs allocated to different cost centres) to arrive at net margins and costs of producing organic fruit per hectare (acre), and per kg (lb). In determining the financial returns, average yields over a number of years (5-10) have been used rather than those related to a specific year and where necessary costs were related to those yields. Presently there are a very small number of specialised organic fruit growers, therefore the sample was small: dessert apples (5), culinary apples (3) pear growers (3), strawberry growers (5). It was not possible to find any commercial data from growers of other organic fruit. Case study data from these growers of apples, pears and strawberries were used to provide ‘best possible estimates’ for the physical and financial performance of these organic fruit enterprises. The general conclusions are that despite low (lower than conventional) and sometimes variable yields most organic fruit growers are currently able to generate economic returns. Profitability is related to current high prices (premiums of 60 100% over conventional) for fruit and ability to sell the whole crop to various outlets. Although individual costs differ the overall costs of production are similar between conventional and organic fruit. The profitability of organic fruit appears to be similar or greater than average conventional production. Break even budgets indicate that even if prices fell by approximately 20% then organic fruit production could still be profitable. Price premiums of approximately 40% are still required to enable organic fruit production to be profitable at current yields. Current price premiums offer potential economically profitable returns; however, conventional growers are reluctant to convert. To give growers confidence to take up the challenge of organic fruit production they need encouragement from government and industry in terms of continued aid to assist conversion, more money for research to improve the quantity and quality of economic data available, to improve production techniques, and finally, money to disseminate this information to growers. This report suggests that continued economic monitoring of converting and existing organic fruit farms should be undertaken. Fruit buyers should also encourage UK growers by offering them market incentives. Unless the UK organic fruit growers receive this encouragement, the majority of organic fruit may continue to be imported

The use of mixed species cropping to manage pests and diseases – theory and practice

This paper was presented at the UK organic research 2002 on behalf of colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR). Mixed species cropping is often perceived as a viable tool to increase on-farm biodiversity in organic agriculture and is a potentially important component of any sustainable cropping system. Apart from increasing total farm productivity, mixed species cropping can bring many important benefits such as improvement of soil fertility management and suppression of pests and/or diseases. In this sense it can be seen as performing different eco-services in the farm system. This paper discusses mixed cropping in this context while focusing on its potential and actual use as a tool to manage pests and diseases in organic farming systems

ISEE-1 data reduction and analysis plasma composition experiment

The plasma composition experiment covers energies from OeV to 17 keV/e and has a mass-per-charge range from less than 1 to about 150 amu. Measurements were made from the inner ring current region to the plasma sheet, magnetotail lobes, and the magnetopause boundary layers and beyond. Possibly the most significant results from the experiment are those related to energetic (0+) ions of terrestrial origin. These ions are found in every region of the magnetosphere reached by the spacecraft and can have energy and pitch-angle distributions that are similar to those traditionally associated with protons of solar wind origin. The (0+) ions are commonly the most numerous ions in the 0.1 - 17 keV/e energy range and are often a substantial part of the ion population at large distances as well, especially during geomagnetically disturbed conditions. An overview of results obtained for the (0+) and other ions with energies in the 0.1 - 17 keV/e range in the magnetosphere is given

Copy approval – a clash of journalism and citizen ethics between Sweden and Britain?

”The story took a year to work out. It was never told before, less so published. The subject was sensitive and the people interviewed were vulnerable, so I had to compromise a little.” What compromising did Sarah Morrison, then a journalist at The Independent have to do? What ethical short-cut did this morally-motivated reporter (who now works for Global Witness, a human rights NGO) have to take to secure the first every feature length story ever told in British mainstream media about intersex women? Actually, very little, from my point of view

PRODUCT RED An organization on the global civil society arena and the global market arena

PRODUCT RED is an aid organization that defines itself as a business strategy. PRODUCT RED's goal is to create a sustainable flow of capital from the private sector to the Global Fund to aid women and children suffering from HIVAIDS in Africa. They approach this by managing a branding mechanism that gives out a license to use the brand name RED to companies. In return, the company signs up to donate a percentage of the profits for PRODUCT RED items to the Global Fund. It is up to the consumer to choose if he/she wants to contribute to the cause by selecting RED. This thesis investigates how the organization is an actor on both the arena of the Global Civil Society and the Global Market, through consumerism. PRODUCT RED's relationship with its partners, the Global Fund and its consumers, and the power vested in them through consumer power, show how the organizations position is structured. PRODUCT RED is generating a theoretical tension because of its position in between the two arenas. The organization is being forced to oblige to two sets of rules which at times creates problems for them, but at other times the position they have taken is an advantage to them and the cause

Long-Life XLPE Insulated Power Cable

Presented at Jicable '07.Crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) has become the globally preferred insulation for power cables, both for distribution and transmission system applications. This insulation system provides cost efficiency in operation and procurement, as well as lower environmental and maintenance requirements when compared to older impregnated paper systems.The purpose of this paper is to outline some of the developments that have led to this position. Understanding these developments will assist utilities to continue sourcing,and installing, the reliable underground assets that they require for the future