Reaseheath College

Thinking about how animals are categorised in Mungo Park’s journey into the interior of Africa provides a deeper understanding of their significance in the early exploration experiences of Africa by Europeans during this era. As it stands, there certainly exists a small but growing body of animal criticism in literary studies, and what can be suitably described as the animal turn is certainly gaining momentum more broadly within twenty-first century literary criticism and debate. However, there has been scant scholarly research on this theme of animals within eighteenth-century travelling practices. In recent times, the scholarship on Park’s journey has been highly particular; new understandings of Park’s trip are still being reached. Considering such specificity, an examination of Park’s narration of nonhuman animals during his trip will not only provide original insight into this aspect of his African experience but also interpret the ways that his narrative differentiates and categorises the various animal experiences he had whilst in Africa.

Abstract Rice pudding is a popular dessert that is eaten across the globe. Variations include the TurkishSutlaç, GermanMilchreis, and IndianKheer. This review article presents the industrial manufacture of a fruit topped rice pudding. Special emphases have been laid onto the process flow, key equipment, and critical control points. This review covers the entire manufacturing chain from product intake to packaged good and will relate back to key industrial equipment required to achieve a unit operation. Further, environmental considerations have been reflected upon.Practical ApplicationsThis review addresses a gap in the literature compiling a comprehensive overview on the manufacture of rice puddings. To compile such a review knowledge must be drawn from dairy processing, grain technology and, given this particular work considers decoration, fruit processing. However, rice pudding is an internationally enjoyed dessert, therefore, it has been deemed as useful to compile this knowledge for the wider food process engineering community.

Anthropogenic activities such as mining, fossil fuel combustion, fertilisers and pesticides utilisation in agriculture, metallurgic processes and disposal of industrial wastes have contributed an exponential rise in arsenic content in environment. The present paper deals with arsenate (AsV) incited stress in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants and its alleviation through the application of nitric oxide (NO) and spermidine (SPD). The exposure of C. arietinum to AsV reduced seedling length, biomass, relative water content and biochemical constituents. All the above-mentioned parameters were escalated when sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or SPD were utilised alone or in combination with AsV. The electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content were increased in chickpea treated with AsV, but reduced in combine treatment (As+SNP+SPD). In chickpea seedlings, 89.4, 248.4 and 333.3% stimulation were recorded in sugar, proline and glycine betaine contents, respectively, with As+SNP+SPD treatment in comparison to control. SNP and SPD modulated function of glyoxalase enzymes by which methylglyoxal (MG) was significantly detoxified in C. arietinum . Maximum reduction 45.2% was observed in MG content in SNP+SPD treatment over AsV stress. Hence, synergistic application of NO and SPD protected chickpea plants against AsV-generated stress by strengthening the antioxidant defence and glyoxalase system, which helped in regulation of biochemical pathways.

To ensure food security on sustainable basis, reducing weeds interference and boosting land use efficiency are critical. A field study was conducted at research farm of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, to sort out the most productive maize-gram intercropping system under semi-arid environment. Treatments included sole maize in single row (60 cm apart) (T1) and double rows (90 cm apart) (T2) strips, sole black (T3) and green gram (T4) crops, six single rows (60 cm apart) of maize with twelve double rows (20 cm) of black (T5) and green gram (T6), three double rows (90 cm apart) of maize with three sets of quadratic rows (20 cm apart) of black (T7) and green gram (T8). The experiment was executed in regular arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that T1 produced the highest grain yield (6.97 t ha−1) of maize and significantly lower weeds infestation compared to wider row spacing (T2). Among intercropping systems, T8 significantly decreased weeds density (16.33 plants m−2) and their fresh (20.93 g m−2) and dry weights (5.63 g m−2), while the maximum land use efficiency as indicated by unmatched land equivalent ratio and intercropping advantage were recorded by T7 and T8. Interestingly, green gram in intercropping recorded over 58% higher productivity than black gram. We conclude that maize-green gram intercropping hold potential to impart sustainability to maize production by reducing weeds infestation (431% lower than sole maize) and could be a viable option for smallholder farmers in semi-arid environment.

There are organizations for re-homing animals that are also specialized in re-homing dogs and cats who have been research subjects. Why can’t we do this for more animals and especially for the rats that are used extensively in research and they are not intended to be pets as they are not as common as pets? Even though previous research highlights neonatal handling as an essential process for rearing less stressed and emotionally sensitive adult rats, there is very little information about a specific neonatal handling schedule that could be a crucial factor in promoting their welfare and adoption as pets. The aim of this study is to propose a standardized handling schedule assessment based on implementation of a neonatal handling procedure that mimics maternal behavior, in order to have a positive effect on the rats’ welfare, decreasing their stress responsiveness towards humans and promoting their adoption as pets. DA rats (DA/OlaHsd) were handled during postnatal days 1 (D1) to 21 (D21) (experimental group, n=15) using a handling schedule that imitates rat maternal behavior or received only gold standard neonatal handling (control group, n=14). On D22, blinded researchers evaluated the behaviour of both groups according to their responses to handling. Blinding was used, as to try to eliminate biased results, as to examine the rats' behavior against strangers which is a crucial factor for their suitability as pets. The data were collected through a customized assessment form. The statistical analysis of both groups’ cumulative responses showed that the experimental group had less stressful responses compared to the control group (Mann-Whitney (U) test: U= 13; P < 0.01). This neonatal handling schedule may improve rat welfare during their life in the lab. Also, it could be a method that assists laboratory rats to be adopted as pets after their laboratory life.

Metadata 2020 have been thinking about how to spend the time during 2020 to ensure that our efforts result in the greatest impact possible. In reviewing our midpoint outputs, we recognized that a key piece that often is missing in the Scholarly Communications Metadata discussion is the change management activities necessary to ensure sustained action toward richer metadata. We feel that effective work here is essential to spur investment and evolved and widespread improved perspectives for metadata. On September 18-19, 2019, we held a Workathon workshop with key contributors to Metadata 2020 to discuss strategies and tactics for catalyzing this action. This paper provides the results of these discussion

I have just read Peter Medawar’s excellent book Advice to a Young Scientist. I had read it once before as a young man, but returning to it aged 55 I appreciated it so much more.

IN the last paragraph of his overview of antimicrobial use in animals, Luca Guardabassi ( VR, December 21/28, 2013, vol 173, pp 559-602) asks us to redirect the discussion on to questions about the production of meat to match the expected 50 per cent increase in consumption in developing countries between 1999 and 2030. We are around halfway through that period, with 2030 no further ahead of us than the dotcom bubble of 1999 is behind us. A large proportion of today's veterinarians and undergraduates will be active through these years. It is right that, …