Tarpon atlanticus in Colombia: a big fish in trouble

The natural history of Tarpon atlanticus (Valenciennes 1846) is reconstructed based on published information. Tarpon is a remarkable fish because of its peculiar larvae, large adult size, migration patterns and its capability to breathe atmospheric air. Destructive fisheries - some using dynamite - have much reduced the population of tarpon along the Caribbean coast of Colombia, and some catch data are presented which document this

Cracks in Martensite Plates as Hydrogen Traps in a Bearing Steel

It is demonstrated that a macroscopically homogeneous distribution of tiny cracks introduced into a martensitic bearing steel sample can provide powerful hydrogen traps. The phenomenon has been investigated through thermal desorption spectroscopy and hydrogen permeation measurements using both cracked and integral samples. The e↵ective hydrogen di↵usion coefficient through the cracked sample is found to be far less than in the uncracked one. Similarly, when samples are charged with hydrogen, and then subjected to thermal desorption analysis, the amount of hydrogen liberated from the cracked sample is smaller due to the trapping by the cracks. Theoretical analysis of the data shows that the traps due to cracks are so strong, that any hydrogen within the cracks can never in practice de-trap and cause harm by mechanisms that require the hydrogen to be mobile for the onset of embrittlement.W. Solano-Alvarez is very grateful for support from the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, CONACyT, the Cambridge Overseas Trust, and the Roberto Rocca Education Programme.This is the accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11661-014-2680-8

Buffering capacity of common feedstuffs used in ruminant diets [Capacidad amortiguadora de ingredientes comúnmente utilizados en la alimentación de rumiantes]

Background: buffer substances are commonly used in cattle nutrition. However, factors such as buffer type and amount added do not take into account the intrinsic buffering capacity of other dietary ingredients. Objective: to determine the buffering capacity (BC) of 25 commonly used energy and protein feedstuffs as well as additives, silages, and forage ingredients. Methods: BC was measured using the technique described by Jasaitis et al. (1988). Results are expressed in milliequivalents of hydrochloric acid required to generate a unit change in pH in the original feed sample. Results: the results of this study are in agreement with those reported by other authors. Conclusion: protein feedstuffs resulted in the highest BC values, followed by forages, while energy ingredients showed the lowest results

Buffering capacity of common feedstuffs used in ruminant diets [Capacidad amortiguadora de ingredientes com�nmente utilizados en la alimentaci�n de rumiantes]

Background: buffer substances are commonly used in cattle nutrition. However, factors such as buffer type and amount added do not take into account the intrinsic buffering capacity of other dietary ingredients. Objective: to determine the buffering capacity (BC) of 25 commonly used energy and protein feedstuffs as well as additives, silages, and forage ingredients. Methods: BC was measured using the technique described by Jasaitis et al. (1988). Results are expressed in milliequivalents of hydrochloric acid required to generate a unit change in pH in the original feed sample. Results: the results of this study are in agreement with those reported by other authors. Conclusion: protein feedstuffs resulted in the highest BC values, followed by forages, while energy ingredients showed the lowest results