Enteric methane emissions and nitrogen utilisation efficiency for two genotype of hill hoggets offered fresh, ensiled and pelleted ryegrass

Thirty-six 12-month-old hill hoggets were used in a 2 genotype (18 Scottish Blackface vs. 18 Swaledale×Scottish Blackface)×3 diet (fresh vs. ensiled vs. pelleted ryegrass) factorial design experiment to evaluate the effects of hogget genotype and forage type on enteric methane (CH4) emissions and nitrogen (N) utilisation. The hoggets were offered 3 diets ad libitum with no concentrate supplementation in a single period study with 6 hoggets for each of the 6 genotype×diet combinations (n=6). Fresh ryegrass was harvested daily in the morning. Pelleted ryegrass was sourced from a commercial supplier (Aylescott Driers & Feeds, Burrington, UK) and the ryegrass silage was ensiled with Ecosyl (Lactobacillus plantarum, Volac International Limited, Hertfordshire, UK) as an additive. The hoggets were housed in individual pens for at least 14 d before being transferred to individual respiration chambers for a further 4 d with feed intake, faeces and urine outputs and CH4 emissions measured. There was no significant interaction between genotype and forage type on any parameter evaluated. Sheep offered pelleted grass had greater feed intake (e.g. DM, energy and N) but less energy and nutrient apparent digestibility (e.g. DM, N and neutral detergent fibre (NDF)) than those given fresh grass or grass silage (P<0.001). Feeding pelleted grass, rather than fresh grass or grass silage, reduced enteric CH4 emissions as a proportion of DM intake and gross energy (GE) intake (P<0.01). Sheep offered fresh grass had a significantly lower acid detergent fibre (ADF) apparent digestibility, and CH4 energy output (CH4-E) as a proportion of GE intake than those offered grass silage (P<0.001). There was no significant difference, in CH4 emission rate or N utilisation efficiency when compared between Scottish Blackface and Swaledale × Scottish Blackface. Linear and multiple regression techniques were used to develop relationships between CH4 emissions or N excretion and dietary and animal variables using data from sheep offered fresh ryegrass and grass silage. The equation relating CH4-E (MJ/d) to GE intake (GEI, MJ/d), energy apparent digestibility (DE/GE) and metabolisability (ME/GE) resulted in a high r2 (CH4-E=0.074 GEI+9.2 DE/GE−10.2 ME/GE−0.37, r2=0.93). N intake (NI) was the best predictor for manure N excretion (Manure N=0.66 NI+0.96, r2=0.85). The use of these relationships can potentially improve the precision and decrease the uncertainty in predicting CH4 emissions and N excretion for sheep production systems managed under the current feeding conditions.

Macroinvertebrate communities and habitat structure in least-impacted hill streams of central Portugal

We surveyed macroinvertebrate communities in 31 hill streams in the Vouga River and Mondego River catchments in central Portugal. Despite applying a "least-impacted" criterion, channel and bank management was common, with 38% of streams demonstrating channel modification (damming) and 80% with evidence of bank modification. Principal component analysis (PCA) at the family and species level related the macroinvertebrates to habitat variables derived at three spatial scales -- site (20 m), reach (200 m), and catchment. Variation in community structure between sites was similar at the species and family level and was statistically related to pH, conductivity, temperature, flow, shade, and substrate size at the site scale; channel and bank habitat and riparian vegetation and land-use at the reach scale; and altitude and slope at the catchment scale. While the effects of river management were apparent in various ecologically important habitat features at the site and reach scale, a direct relationship with macroinvertebrate assemblages was only apparent between the extent of walled banks and the secondary PCA axis described by species data. The strong relationship between catchment scale variables and descriptors of physical structure at the reach and site scale suggests that catchment-scale parameters are valuable predicators of macroinvertebrate community structure in these streams despite the anthropogenic modifications of the natural habitat.

The Corporate University: An E-interview with Dave Hill, Alpesh Maisuria, Anthony Nocella, and Michael Parenti

Since the neo-liberal turn, corporate investment in universities has accelerated as the withdrawal of government funding, among other factors, has further exposed universities to market forces. While this process offers numerous benefits for corporations and wealthy individuals, it has been mostly detrimental for students, educators, and the public at large. In this interview, international scholars Dave Hill, Alpesh Maisuria, Anthony Nocella, and Michael Parenti broadly explain why corporations have been aggressively investing in universities. They address the numerous ways that corporate involvement in university activity negatively impacts academic freedom, research outcomes, and the practice of democracy. The interview ends on a hopeful note by presenting examples of resistance against corporate influence. Their analyses focus primarily on the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

"I went through every hill in Korea until I got to Yalu river." Kokemuksen ja tilan kuvaus Korean sodassa (1950‒1953) palvelleiden yhdysvaltalaissotilaiden haastatteluissa

Korean sota on länsimaisessa historiantutkimuksessa yksi vähiten tutkittuja 1900-luvun sotia. Sotaa on tutkittu jonkin verran perinteisen sotahistorian näkökulmasta keskittyen sodan strategiaan ja taistelutilanteisiin. Oma tutkielmani pyrkii hahmottamaan Korean sotaa niin sanotun uuden sotahistorian näkökulmasta. Tässä pro gradussa tutkin Korean sodassa taistelleiden yhdysvaltalaisten sotilaiden kokemuksien kuvauksia keskittyen erityisesti tilan kuvaukseen. Tutkielmassani käytän aineistonani 2000-luvulla tehtyjä amerikkalaisten Korean sodan veteraanien haastatteluja. Etsin haastatteluista vastauksia siihen, minkälaisia kokemuksen kuvauksia liittyen tilaan, ympäristöön ja paikkaan Korean sodan veteraanit tuovat esille. Tutkielmassani määrittelen tilan olevan ensisijaisesti merkityksellistetty sijainti, johon liitetään subjektiivisia kokemuksia. Lähestyn haastateltujen veteraanien tilan kuvausta sen kautta, minkälaisia kokemuksia he tuovat esille. Haastattelut lähdeaineistona tarvitsevat avukseen muistitietotutkimusta, jota olen myös hyödyntänyt tutkielmassani. Tilaa hahmottelen useiden erilaisten teemojen kautta, kuten ympäristön, paikan, arjen kokemusten ja sosiaalisten suhteiden sekä kuoleman avulla. Veteraanit kertoivat haastatteluissaan useita kokemuksia, jotka voidaan hahmotella olevan osa tilan kokemusta. Erilaisia tilaan liittyviä veteraanien kuvailtuja kokemuksia olivat esimerkiksi juoksuhautojen kylmyys, vihollisten henkinen läheisyys sekä erilaiset nimetyt taistelupaikat, joihin yhdistettiin kokemuksia ja muistoja. Korean sota koetaan yhä niin sanottuna unohdettuna sotana, sillä se ei ole saavuttanut merkityksellistä asemaa amerikkalaisessa julkisessa muistissa ja tutkimustieto sodasta on varsin vähäistä verrattuna esimerkiksi Vietnamin sotaan. Tarkoituksenani on lähestyä Korean sotaa uudesta näkökulmasta, sillä tutkielmassani yhdistän sotahistorian ja tilan tutkimuksen.

Sagamore Hill /

"*GPO: 1995--387-034/0018 Reprint 1984."

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, New York, official map and guide /

"*GPO: 1997--417-648/60078."