Search

The interdisciplinary workshop ‘Analysis and Visualization of Moving Objects’ was held at the Lorentz Centre in Leiden, The Netherlands, from 27 June to 1 July 2011. It brought together international specialists from ecology, computer science and geographical information science actively involved in the exploration, visualization and analysis of moving objects, such as marine reptiles, mammals, birds, storms, ships, cars and pedestrians. The aim was to share expertise, methodologies, data and common questions between different fields, and to work towards making significant advances in movement research. A data challenge based on GPS tracking of lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) was used to stimulate initial discussions, cross-fertilization between research groups and to serve as an initial focus for activities during the workshop.

Heterogeneity in space and time makes it difficult to evaluate the hydrologic effects of hedgerows in between crops. In this study a robust modelling system for designing hedgerow barrier systems is introduced. The system is demonstrated with experimental data over three years from a site in central Burkina Faso. Soils at the site are prone to crusting and consist of a sandy loam in the top layer and clay in deeper layers. Measurements comprise runoff from differently sized plots (1, 5 and 10 square meters), water storage into the soil, and rainfall. It appears that the relevant hydrologic processes can be represented with the available measurements by two compact dynamic models, each comprising two states (runoff and soil water; water use and soil water), one input (rain; potential evapotranspiration) and two spatial units (hedgerow and cropped area). The analysis of the phase planes of the models reveals which combinations of alley length and hedgerow type lead to desirable combinations of both runoff and evapotranspiration. This information can be interpreted directly in a qualitative sense or alternatively used for a Monte-Carlo analysis of the system.

Naturally hypercholesteremic dogs serve as useful animals in determining the value of unsaturated fatty acids for reducing plasma total cholesterol. Unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic or ethyl linoleate) bring about a significant and consistent reduction in plasma cholesterol.

At very low dietary levels, chlorpromazine has a favorable effect on growth and metabolism of Vit. B6-deficient rats. These animals gained more weight, had more nearly normal organ weights, and excreted less creatine and phosphates than did the pyridoxine-deficient controls.

HERBERT1has reported that calcium is obligatory for absorption of vitamin B12by liver slices in the presence of intrinsic factor, since the addition of a calcium binder—the di-sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA) decreased the intrinsic factor effect. Minard and Wagner2made similar observations with liver homogenates in which calcium increased vitamin B12uptake in the presence of intrinsic factor.

Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.