Earwitness memory: factors that influence voice recognition accuracy across the lifespan [poster presentation]

We aimed to explore the effect of change in frequency (F0 in Hz) and speech rate (syllables per second - SPS) on voice recognition accuracy. In part one of our experiment, participants (M=36; F=36; aged 18-30 years) were given a 2AFC voice matching task which involved hearing (binaural headphone presentation) synthesised (using NaturalReader 12) voices (uttering the phrase “spring is the season where flowers appear, summer is the warmest season of the year”). Participants had to identify whether the two voices were the ‘same’ or ‘different’ (using a key press, left/right). There were six target voices (six different identities, three male and three female) in total. In each trial the to be matched voices comprised the original voice or a modulated version (increased/decreased F0 or increased/decreased SPS) of the original voice presented in a random order. In part two of our experiment, the same participants heard the original voice and the modulated versions in a random order. After presenting each voice, participants had to decide whether the voice they heard was ‘male’ or ‘female’ (using a key press, left/right). Results from part one indicated that participants could discriminate a more subtle pitch shift than they could for speech rate. Results from part two indicated that participants correctly identified the sex of the speaker when SPS was modulated for both male and female voices, and when F0 was modulated for male voices. However, participants incorrectly identified a female voice as ‘male’ when F0 decreased. This suggests that both pitch and speech rate variations are important for accurate speaker identification and voice discrimination

Differential Haemoparasite Intensity between Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) Morphs Suggests an Adaptive Function for Polymorphism

Recent research suggests that genes coding for melanin based colouration may have pleiotropic properties, in particular conveying raised immune function. Thus adaptive function of polymorphism may be associated with parasite resistance. The black sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus is a polymorphic raptor with two morphs. Over most of its range the light morph is commonest, however within the recently colonised Western Cape of South Africa the dark morph predominates. The species breeds in winter throughout South Africa, however unlike in the rest of the species' South African range, the Western Cape experiences a winter rainfall regime, where arthropod vectors which transmit haematozoan parasites may be more abundant. We hypothesise that the higher frequency of dark morph birds in this region may be due to their improved parasite resistance, which enables them to cope with higher parasite pressure. If so, we predict that dark morph black sparrowhawks would have lower parasite burdens than light morph birds. Within our population the prevalence of the two most common haematozoan parasites was high, with 72% of adults infected with Haemoproteus nisi and 59% of adults infected with Leucocytozoon toddi. We found no difference in prevalence for either parasite between adult morphs, or between chicks of different parental morphs. However, within adults infected with H. nisi, infection intensity was significantly higher in light morphs than dark morphs. This suggests that dark morphs have lower parasite loads than light morphs due to resistance rather than morph-specific habitat exploitation. Greater resistance to Haemoproteus parasites may therefore be one of the mechanisms through which dark morph black sparrowhawks have a selective advantage in this region and may explain why they are most common in our study area. In other regions, the cost to benefit ratio may be in favour of the light morph, where parasites are less abundant or virulent

Chemical control of ufra disease of rice: a simple profitability analysis

Multiple field trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of Furataf 5G, Arodhan 5G and Biestern 5G @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha with standard check, Furadan 5G in two ecosystems and three seasons viz. November to April irrigated ecosystem (Boro), April to July (Transplanted Aus) and July to October (Transplanted Aman) rain-fed lowland ecosystems during 1995 to 1997. All the test chemicals are effective to control the ufra disease of rice and increased yield in comparison with Furadan 5G. In respect of all seasons, Furataf 5G, Arodhan 5G, Biestern 5G increased yield recovery 2.29- 4.15, 2.59-3.40 and 3.06-3.86 t/ha in three rice genotypes respectively, which was more or loss similar to Furadan 5G (3.09-3.65 t/ha). Yield reduces due to ufra disease was 79.48% in T. Aman, while it was 93.88% and 89.11% in T. Aus and Boro rice. Application of Furataf 5G, Arodhan 5G, Biestern 5G and Furadan 5G showed 14.44-15.74, 10.09-14.31 and 12.45 -14.92 times profitable in case of T. Aus, T. Aman and Boro respectively over the control (Diseased). Simple economic analysis also revealed that ufra control with the use of three chemicals in soil treatments is profitable. Thus three chemicals may also be used as alternative to Furadan 5G

Effect of dietary protein level, amino acid balance and feeding level on growth, gastrointestinal tract, and mucosal structure of the small intestine in broiler chickens

Harry Kofi Swatson, Robert Gou, Paul Ade Iji and Reza Zarrinkala

Molecular markers: a potential resource for ginger genetic diversity studies

Ginger is an economically important and valuable plant around the world. Ginger is used as a food, spice, condiment, medicine and ornament. There is available information on biochemical aspects of ginger, but few studies have been reported on its molecular aspects. The main objective of this review is to accumulate the available molecular marker information and its application in diverse ginger studies. This review article was prepared by combing material from published articles and our own research. Molecular markers allow the identification and characterization of plant genotypes through direct access to hereditary material. In crop species, molecular markers are applied in different aspects and are useful in breeding programs. In ginger, molecular markers are commonly used to identify genetic variation and classify the relatedness among varieties, accessions, and species. Consequently, it provides important input in determining resourceful management strategies for ginger improvement programs. Alternatively, a molecular marker could function as a harmonizing tool for documenting species. This review highlights the application of molecular markers (isozyme, RAPD, AFLP, SSR, ISSR and others such as RFLP, SCAR, NBS and SNP) in genetic diversity studies of ginger species. Some insights on the advantages of the markers are discussed. The detection of genetic variation among promising cultivars of ginger has significance for ginger improvement programs. This update of recent literature will help researchers and students select the appropriate molecular markers for ginger-related research

Development of advanced fragrant rice lines from MR269 × Basmati 370 through marker-assisted backcrossing

Fragrance in rice is an appealing attribute to consumers. The increasing demand for fragrant rice highlights the need to develop fragrant rice variety that suit the preference of local consumers in addition to reduce fragrant rice imports. Marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) was employed to develop advanced fragrant rice lines from the cross between MR269 and Basmati 370. MR269 is a Malaysian high-yielding rice variety but non-fragrant and was used as recurrent parent whereas Basmati 370 is a well-known fragrant traditional rice variety and was used as donor parent for the fragrance gene. Two generations of backcrosses and a generation of selfing were conducted to introgress the fragrance gene and restore the recurrent parent genome in the backcross progenies. As a result, 14 advanced fragrant rice lines were developed. These advanced fragrant rice lines carried homozygous alleles for the fragrance gene, similar to Basmati 370. The average recovery of recurrent parent genome was 88.4%. Besides being fragrant, the advanced fragrant rice lines also had most of the morphological and agronomical traits similar to MR269. Grain quality of the advanced fragrant rice lines in terms of gelatinization temperature, amylose content and gel consistency are also similar to both parents. Besides, the advanced fragrant rice lines had 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content similar to Basmati 370. MABC approach applied in this study has successfully introgressed the fragrance gene and accelerated the recovery of recurrent parent genome in advanced fragrant rice lines, therefore these lines can be delivered to the farmers and consumers for use in due time

Beplanning in Suidwes-Afrika

In South West Africa, planning until the early sixties was mainly on an ad hoc basis and, apart from the functioning of the normal state machine, there was little attention paid to planning on a fixed, organized basis: the first real effort to compile a comprehensive planning report for South West Africa was published in 1962-1963 when the well-known Odendaal Commission published its 'Report of the South Africa Investigation Commission Commission'. However, the terms of order for the commission were such that more attention has been paid to the moral and moral welfare and social progress of non-white inhabitants of South West Africa.*This article is written in Afrikaans

Measurement of barley (Hordeum vulgare) feed quality parameters In Sacco and mapping of associated quantitative trait loci (QTL) in Cattle

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a major feed source for the livestock industry. Its competitiveness against other cereal grains such as wheat, oats, maize and grain sorghum depends largely on its price per unit of expressed feed quality. The traits which contribute to feed quality in barley are largely quantitative in nature but little is known about their genetic control and few studies have attempted to identify these quantitative trait loci (QTL). A study to identify the QTLs associated with feed quality was performed using a F6 – derived recombinant inbred barley population from a Tallon x Scarlet cross. 117 unique lines from the Tallon x Scarlett population, for which a genetic map is available, were used. Samples from each line were incubated for three hours in the rumen of fistulated cattle, recovered, washed and dried for analysis. Both the original samples (pre-) and the post-digestion residue were analysed for key grain traits of feed quality, namely acid detergent fibre (ADF), starch, protein and in sacco dry matter digestibility. Analysis was performed using both analytical chemistry and NIR techniques. The phenotypic results and data were used to identify genomic regions (QTL) associated with these traits. Putative QTLs were found on chromosome 2H, 3H, 5H and 7H. However, numerous suggestive QTLs were found throughout the barley genome. Genetic markers that define these QTL will be an effective tool for the selection and improvement of feed barley in the future. Additionally the research showed that the development of NIR calibrations appropriate for the detection of post-digestion nutrient measurement is essential for its establishment as a rapid, non-destructive feed quality measurement technique. This study also validated the ability of these QTL analyses to be performed under Australian conditions and with local feed grains and animals

A Dynamic Approach to Feed Formulation

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the opportunity cost of using fixed tables of nutrient requirements when formulating feeds for broilers can be considerable, and that nutritionists should consider a more dynamic approach to defining the lower bounds of amino acids in particular, in line with the objective of the business, which is to maximise profit. In order to do this, it is necessary to consider the potential growth rate of the broiler, the cost of feed and amount of feed consumed, and the income generated from the sale of product