Ice Bear: The Cultural History of an Arctic Icon by Michael Engelhard

Review of Michael Engelhard\u27s Ice Bear: The Cultural History of an Arctic Icon

Improving smallholder income generation by integrating DMC by-products into pig raising activities

Development of cereal/legumes association in DMC system with smallholder farmers needs to provide direct economic benefits in addition to soil fertility improvement and weed control. Thus, no till maize associated with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) has been promoted in Sayaboury province of Lao PDR in order to improve the conventional maize monocropping system, provide farmers with additional raw material for pig raising and reduce local dependence on imported soybean meal. However, the use of grain legumes in pig nutrition has been limited due to high concentrations of secondary plant metabolites. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of three dietary treatments on the technical and economic performances of short-term pig fattening systems. Treatments were based on different protein sources - i.e. soybean meal (Group 1), inclusion of raw pigeon pea seed (Group 2), and inclusion of boiled pigeon pea seed in a ration (Group 3). The results of these trials show that the quantity of pigeon pea meal used does not affect pig growth. Average daily growth obtained after 150 days with pigs reared with an inclusion of pigeon pea seed meal were significantly higher for Group 2 and 3 (523 g.day-1; 529 g.day-1) than those reared with protein concentrate only (464 g/day). Feed intake composed of 18% of pigeon pea enabled a reduction of 13% in the total cost of feed production. On average, the pigs fed with an inclusion of pigeon pea provided a net profit increase of 24 USD per head with no need meal preparation (boiling). Additional experiments should attempt using larger amounts of pigeon pea seed meal in the feed intake in order to evaluate the impact of higher content of antinutritional factors on growth performance. (Résumé d'auteur

High prevalence of Sarcocystis calchasi in racing pigeon flocks in Germany

The apicomplexan parasite Sarcocystis calchasi (Coccidia: Eimeriorina: Sarcocystidae) is the causative agent of Pigeon Protozoal Encephalitis (PPE) and infects birds of the orders Columbiformes, Piciformes and Psittaciformes. Accipiter hawks (Aves: Accipitriformes) are the definitive hosts of this parasite. Infections of S. calchasi have been detected in Germany, the United States and Japan. However, the prevalence of the parasite in racing pigeon flocks has not yet been determined. Here, the first cross-sectional prevalence study to investigate S. calchasi in pigeon racing flocks was accomplished including 245 pigeon flocks across Germany. A total of 1,225 muscle biopsies, were taken between 2012 and 2016 and examined by semi-nested PCR for S. calchasi DNA targeting the ITS gene. Additionally, a questionnaire on construction of the aviary as well as management and health status of the flock was conducted. In 27.8% (95% C.I. = 22.3–33.8%) of the flocks, S. calchasi DNA was detected in at least one pigeon. Positive flocks were located in 15 out of 16 federal states. A significant increase of infected racing pigeons was seen in spring. Half-covered or open aviary constructions showed a trend of increase of the prevalence rate, while anti-coccidian treatment and acidified drinking water had no effects. The high prevalence and the geographical distribution of S. calchasi suggest a long-standing occurrence of the parasite in the German racing pigeon population. For pigeons presented with neurological signs or other symptoms possibly related to PPE, S. calchasi should be considered as a potential cause throughout Germany

Point and Lie Bäcklund symmetries of certain partial differential equations : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Mathematics at Massey University

The aim of this thesis is to: (1) Explore the use of differential forms in obtaining point and contact symmetries of particular partial differential equations (PDEs) and hence their corresponding similarity solutions. [1] and [4]. (2) Explore the generalized or Lie-Bäcklund symmetries of particular PDEs with particular reference to the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers (KdVB) equation [3]. Finding point symmetries of a PDE H = 0 with independent variables (x1,x2 ) which we take to represent space and time and dependent variable (u) means finding the transformation group that takes the variables (x1, x2, u) to the system (x´1, x´2 , u´ ) and maps solutions of H = 0 into solutions of the same equation. The form of H = 0 remains invariant. The transformation group is usually expressed in terms of its infinitesimal generator (X) where using the tensor summation convention. X can be considered as a differential vector operator with components (ξ1 , ξ2 , η) operating in a three dimensional manifold (space) with coordinates (x1 , x2 , u). The invariance of H = 0 under the transformation group is expressed in terms of a suitable prolongation or extension of X (denoted by X(pr) ) to cover the effect of the transformations on the derivatives of u in H = 0. The invariance condition for H = 0 under the action of the transformation group is (Pr) [H] = 0 whenever H = 0. We consider x1 , x2 , u and the derivatives of u to be independent variables. In practical terms, finding point symmetries of H = 0 means finding the components (ξ1 , ξ2 , η) of the infinitesimal generator (X). There are two general methods for finding ξ1 , ξ2 η. [From Introduction] [NB: Mathematical/chemical formulae or equations have been omitted from the abstract due to website limitations. Please read the full text PDF file for a complete abstract.

An Environmental History of Medieval Europe by Richard C. Hoffman

Review of Richard C. Hoffman\u27s An Environmental History of Medieval Europe

Suitability of leguminous cover crop pollens as food source for the green lacewing Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Diversification of crops with species that provide suitable pollen for predators may reduce pest population on crops by enhancing predator effectiveness. In this paper we evaluated the suitability of leguminous cover crop pollens to the predatory green lacewing Chrysoperla externa (Hagen). The predator is commonly found in coffee agroecosystems and the plant species tested were pigeon pea and sunn hemp, which are used in organic coffee systems. Newly emerged females and males of C. externa were reared on diets containing pollen of pigeon pea, sunn hemp, or castor bean, used as a control. The reproductive success of C. externa was evaluated when females fed the pollen species and when honey was added to the diets, to verify the predator need for an extra carbohydrate source. Similar intrinsic growth rates were found for females fed on pigeon pea pollen and on sunn hemp pollen but these rates increased significantly when honey was added to the diets. Females fed with pigeon pea pollen plus honey and with sunn hemp pollen plus honey had higher intrinsic growth rates than those fed with castor bean pollen plus honey. Females fed on castor bean pollen only or on honey only, did not oviposit. Leguminous pollen species were equally suitable for C. externa especially when they were complemented with honey. The results suggest that to successfully enhance predator effectiveness, organic coffee plantation should be diversified with plant providing pollen in combination with plant providing nectar

Macro vs. Micro Methods in Non-Life Claims Reserving (an Econometric Perspective)

Traditionally, actuaries have used run-off triangles to estimate reserve ("macro" models, on agregated data). But it is possible to model payments related to individual claims. If those models provide similar estimations, we investigate uncertainty related to reserves, with "macro" and "micro" models. We study theoretical properties of econometric models (Gaussian, Poisson and quasi-Poisson) on individual data, and clustered data. Finally, application on claims reserving are considered

Response suppression as a function of a vacation from punishment

Response suppression as function of vacation from punishment in pigeon

Hydrodynamic nucleation of vortices and solitons in a resonantly excited polariton superfluid

We present a theoretical study of the hydrodynamic properties of a quantum gas of exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity under a resonant laser excitation. The effect of a spatially extended defect on the superfluid flow is investigated as a function of the flow speed. The processes that are responsible for the nucleation of vortices and solitons in the wake of the defect are characterized, as well as the regimes where the superfluid flow remains unperturbed. Specific features due to the non-equilibrium nature of the polariton fluid are put in evidence